Age-related Longitudinal Changes in Aviator Performance

Completed

• Conditions: Memory Impairment

• Registration Number: NCT01364753
• Lead Sponsor: Stanford University

Brief Summary

Our overall goal has been twofold: 1) to evaluate whether there are significant age-related changes in flight simulator performance near age 60, and 2) to assess whether there is an alternative model that can explain longitudinal flight simulator performance on the basis of measures of cognitive function and expertise.

Detailed Description

Our overall goal has been twofold: 1) to evaluate whether there are significant age-related changes in flight simulator performance near age 60, and 2) to assess whether there is an alternative model that can explain longitudinal flight simulator performance on the basis of measures of cognitive function and expertise. Such a model might be able to predict change in aviator performance better than what could be predicted by chronological age alone.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-01
• Study First Submitted: 2011-05-31
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-05-31
• Study First Posted: 2011-06-02
• Primary Completion: 2014-06
• Study Completion: 2014-12
• Status Verified: 2016-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-12-05
• Last Update Posted: 2016-12-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 139

Inclusion Criteria

1. licensed aircraft pilot 2) 45 to 70 years of age 3) at least 100 hours of total flight experience 4) current FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) medical certificate of class III or higher

Read More

Exclusion Criteria

1. taking psychotropic medications 2) taking other medications with arousal or sedative effects

Read More

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Aviation-related performance over time.	longitudinal	Participants "fly" in our computerized flight simulator and perform a set of brief tasks designed to measure reaction time and attention span. The study is longitudinal, collecting information about aviation-related performance over time. There is an initial training period, followed by annual visits. During the training period participants learn how to "fly" the simulator, and performance on certain standard maneuvers will be measured during a maximum of 6 simulated flights. At each annual visit, participants fly two 75-minute simulated flights and may be asked to perform up to four holding patterns and instrument landings.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

VA Palo Alto Health Care System; 🇺🇸 Palo Alto, California, United States