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Working Memory Training in COPD Patients: the Cogtrain-Trial

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
COPD
Cognitive Impairment
Interventions
Other: Working memory training
Behavioral: Standardised healthy lifestyle coaching
Registration Number
NCT03073954
Lead Sponsor
Maastricht University Medical Center
Brief Summary

General cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Domain-specific cognitive impairments include deficits in domains such as cognitive flexibility, verbal memory, working memory, planning, and psychomotor speed; which in general are associated with poor health behaviours, such as infrequent exercising and poor diet. Additional cognitive training may reverse these effects. Recent evidence suggests that working memory training is linked to self-control and, indirectly, to improved lifestyle behaviour including increased physical activity. The investigators hypothesise that enhancing cognitive performance through administering specific working memory training not only improves cognitive function but that it facilitates better adherence to a more active lifestyle and a healthier diet in COPD patients.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
75
Inclusion Criteria
  • primary diagnosis of COPD based on the Global Initiative for Chronic obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines
  • Patients also need to provide written informed consent
  • Be motivated as evaluated by the self-determination questionnaire
Exclusion Criteria
  • Disease and or disability limiting the ability to undergo a neuropsychological testing battery and/or to follow a working memory training (e.g., blindness)
  • Neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease or cerebrovascular disease)
  • Insufficient mastery of the Dutch language
  • Individuals who during the study period are or will be participating in a PR programme

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Working memory trainingStandardised healthy lifestyle coachingWorking memory training that increases with difficulty if participants answer two subsequent questions correctly, and standardised healthy lifestyle coaching.
Sham working memory trainingStandardised healthy lifestyle coachingWorking memory training that does not increase in difficulty, and standardised healthy lifestyle coaching.
Working memory trainingWorking memory trainingWorking memory training that increases with difficulty if participants answer two subsequent questions correctly, and standardised healthy lifestyle coaching.
Sham working memory trainingWorking memory trainingWorking memory training that does not increase in difficulty, and standardised healthy lifestyle coaching.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Feasibility of the cognitive training in COPD patients as measured through training compliance.6 months

The compliance as well as the acceptability of working memory training in the COPD patient population will be investigated

Change in cognitive performance before and after working memory training as assessed through a cognitive test performance battery.6 months

Improvement in cognitive flexibility, planning, and working memory.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Stress perception as assessed through a perceived stress scale.6 months

A subjective measure of chronic stress will be measured using the perceived stress scale score.

Acute stress as assessed through the socially evaluated cold pressor test6 months

Acute stress will be measured using the socially evaluated cold pressor test, heart rate is also monitored.

Chronic stress levels as measured through hair levels of cortisol6 months

An objective measure of stress levels experienced over the last 3 months will be measured using cortisol extracted from a hair sample.

Daily physical activity level6 months

Physical activity data will be collected by an accelerometer using step counts.

Physical performance assessed through the 6 minute walk test6 months

Changes in physical performance will be assessed using the 6-minute walking test (6MWT).Two six-minute walk tests (6MWT) will be performed according to ERS/ATS guidelines to measure functional exercise capacity. The best 6MWT will be expressed in percentage of predicted values.

Self-control (impulsivity)6 months

This will be measured using the stop signal task.

Stress levels as measured through the salivary cortisol awakening response6 months

An objective measure of stress will be measured using salivary cortisol awakening response

Mental health, depressive symptoms assessed via the BDI-II6 months

Mental health with respect to depression will be evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory-second edition (BDI-II)

Mental health, anxiety symptoms assessed via the GAD-76 months

Mental health with respect to anxiety will be evaluated using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)

Self-determination questionnaire6 months

Motivation will be prior to the enrolment of participants in this study in order to include patients who are motivated to initiate and continue our working memory training. The self-made questionnaire evaluates patient's reasons for participating in the study in order to assess their intrinsic motivation.

Short Performance Battery6 months

The SPPB consists of three types of physical manoeuvres: the balance tests, the gait speed test, and the chair stand test. The results of the different tests result in a score which will be used for analysis.

Changes in dietary intake over the intervention period6 months

Changes in dietary intake over the intervention period will be assessed using a food frequency questionnaire.

Medication adherence6 months

Medication adherence will be measured using a sem

Regulation of Eating Behavior Scale (REBS)6 months

Changes in eating behavior motivation will be investigated using the REBS.

COPD Assessment test (CAT)6 months

Impact of the intervention on quality of life will be done using the brief CAT questionnaire.

Anthropometry6 months

Alterations in Anthropometical measures will be evaluated using waist circumference, biometric impedance, and body weight (BMI).

Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2) Regulation6 months

Changes in exercise motivation will be investigated using the BREQ-2

Manipulation Check6 months

Participants will be asked to recall key health messages from their personalized healthy lifestyle advice sessions. Responses will be scored as follows: 0 points - field blank or no recall of the message content; 1 point - key points not directly related to the message themes; 2 points - key points directly related to the message themes.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Maastricht University

🇳🇱

Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

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