Treating Verbal Memory Deficits Following Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer TreatmentCognitive Deficits
- Registration Number
- NCT03017560
- Lead Sponsor
- Northwestern University
- Brief Summary
The primary purpose of this study is to test the effects of a targeted, computerized cognitive training program on verbal memory in older women who have undergone chemotherapy treatment for early-stage breast cancer. As measured by neuropsychological assessment, this treatment will result in improved verbal memory. Secondarily, processing speed and naming abilities are expected to improve. Enhanced self-perception of cognitive ability is also expected.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 45
- Women ages 65-90
- Chemotherapy treatment for early-stage (I, IIa, IIb, IIIa) breast cancer
- Post-menopausal
- High school education or greater
- Geographically available for followup assessment
- Native English speaker
- Normal or corrected to near-normal hearing and vision
- Psychiatric history including past or current psychotic spectrum disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, dementia, schizoaffective disorder)
- Brain injury (e.g., stroke, heart attack, aneurysm, tumor, concussion, head trauma)
- Brain disease
- History of brain irradiation or surgery
- Current or past disease/disorder of the central nervous system or medical condition affecting cognitive functioning (e.g., chronic migraine, epilepsy or history of seizures, encephalitis, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, thyroid condition, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease)
- Active diagnosis of autoimmune or inflammatory disorder (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, insulin-dependent diabetes, Crohn's disease, uncontrolled allergic reaction or asthma)
- History of other cancer, except for basal cell carcinoma
- Development of a second primary malignancy during the study
- Drug or alcohol abuse (i.e., more than 7 drinks per week)
- Chronic use of oral steroid medication
- Former (prior to early-stage breast cancer) intrathecal therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or any neoadjuvant chemotherapy
- Acquired or developmental speech, language, or learning disorders (e.g., aphasia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, auditory processing disorder, autism, developmental delay)
- Hormone replacement therapy, excluding vaginal estrogen
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Verbal Memory Change in Verbal Memory scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks. Immediate and delayed verbal memory
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Processing Speed measured via Lexical Decision Task Change in Processing Speed scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks The Lexical Decision Task is a computerized task that measures processing speed by calculating reaction times to verb and non-verb stimuli. Outcome is measured by reaction time in milliseconds.
Processing Speed measured via Stroop Color-Word Test Change in Processing Speed scores from Pretreatment/Baseline to Posttreatment/6 weeks, from Posttreatment/6 weeks to 1 month followup/10 weeks, and from Pretreatment/Baseline to 1 month followup/10 weeks The Stroop Color-Word task is a paper and pencil task that measures processing speed by assessing correct number of words read, correct number of color names read, and correct number of color-word interference pairs (i.e., names of colors printed in non-matching ink colors) read in 45 seconds. Outcomes are measured in raw scores and associated T-scores referenced against sex+age normative groups. The Stroop Color-Word Test scores will not be aggregated with the Lexical Decision Task scores.