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Multi-domain Versus Uni-Domain Training on Executive Control and Memory Functions of Older Adults

Not Applicable
Conditions
Memory Functions
Executive Functions
Interventions
Behavioral: Cognitive training
Behavioral: Physical training
Behavioral: Cognitive control
Behavioral: Physical control
Registration Number
NCT03823183
Lead Sponsor
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Brief Summary

Age-related cognitive decline affects negatively daily living and quality of life of older adults. Previous research has shown a moderate impact of cognitive and physical training on the cognitive functioning of elders. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) examines the differential impact of multi-domain cognitive (video game training) and physical training (the physical exercise was Body-attack, a mixed of dance, aerobic, strength, and muscular resistance versus cognitive training and physical training separately, on executive control and memory functions of healthy older adults (N=120), in comparison with an active control group. Participants (between 60 and 80 years old) will be allocated randomly to one of the four experimental groups: 1) physical training-single domain: physical training and cognitive control activity; 2) cognitive training-single domain: cognitive training and physical control activity; 3) cognitive-physical multi-domain: physical training and cognitive training; 4) active control: physical control activity and cognitive control activity. Physical training will be group-based and include coordination, aerobic exercise and strength exercise. The physical control activity will include stretching and relaxation exercises. The cognitive training will consist of commercial brain training video games. Difficulty will be automatically adjusted to the performance level of the participant. The cognitive control activity will be cognitively non-demanding video games. Physical activities (experimental and control) will be trained for 40 min and cognitive activities (experimental and control) for 40 min consecutively during the same session. There will be 2 session/wk over 3 months. Executive functioning, memory functions and psychological wellbeing will be assessed using behavioral and electrophysiological measures at baseline, after study completion and at 3-month follow-up. The main goal was to investigate possible intervention-related transfer effects to untrained executive and memory functions. The goal is to find out whether multi-domain training improves more executive and memory functions that are often compromised in later years, but essential for everyday activities. We expect to find larger transfer effects in the multi-domain condition than in the uni-domain conditions, shorter ERP latencies of the P2 component, and enhanced N2 and P3b components after training.

Detailed Description

All participants complete one of the four combinations of cognitive training with video games and physical exercise. The cognitive component will be either a brain training video game program selected from Lumosity (cognitive intervention, CI) or video games not specifically designed to train attention and executive control (cognitive control, CC). The physical exercise component will be either Body-attack, a combination of dance, aerobic, strength, and muscular resistance (exercise intervention, EI) or its control condition composed of stretching, toning and relaxation (exercise control, EC).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
120
Inclusion Criteria

No current intensive sports or physical activity practice. No current use of brain-training video games

Exclusion Criteria

Dementia. Mild Cognitive Impairment. A neurological or major psychiatric disorder. Significant heart illness. Lung disease.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Multi-domain trainingCognitive trainingGroup that receives cognitive training and physical training
Multi-domain trainingPhysical trainingGroup that receives cognitive training and physical training
Cognitive trainingCognitive trainingGroup that receives cognitive training and physical control activity
Physical activityPhysical trainingGroup that receives control cognitive activity and physical training
Physical activityCognitive controlGroup that receives control cognitive activity and physical training
Active controlCognitive controlGroup that receives cognitive control activity and physical control activity
Cognitive trainingPhysical controlGroup that receives cognitive training and physical control activity
Active controlPhysical controlGroup that receives cognitive control activity and physical control activity
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Immediate visual memory assessed with Visual Memory Face I (Weschler Memory Scale)Change from Baseline in Face I to 3 and 6 months

Units on the Scale: scale range (minimum score = 0 and maximum score = 48).

Executive functions assessed with Memory-based Task SwitchingChange from Baseline in Memory-based Task Switching to 3 and 6 months

Performance in the Memory-base Task Switching: Neurophysiological parameter-Event-related potentials (ERPs) in the Memory-Based Task Switching

Differed visual memory assessed with Visual Memory Face II (Weschler Memory Scale)Change from Baseline in Face II to 3 and 6 months

Units on the Scale: scale range (minimum score = 0 and maximum score = 48).

With data from Visual Memory Face I (inmediate recognition) and Visual Memory Face II (differed recognition) we compute the percentage of memory retention = Visual Memory Face II / Visual Memory Face I X 100

Differed verbal memory assessed with Pair-Words II (Weschler Memory Scale)Change from Baseline in Pair-Words II to 3 and 6 months

Units on the Scale: scale range for Recall (minimum score = 0 and maximum score = 8).

scale range for Recognition (minimum score =0 and maximum score = 24)

Recall. With data from Pair-Words I (inmediate recognition) and Pair-Words II (differed recognition) we compute the percentage of memory retention = Pair-Words II / Pair-Word I X 100

Attention assessed with Trail Making Test A+BChange from Baseline in Trail Making Test to 3 and 6 months

Performance in Trail Making Test A+B score

Inhibition assessed with Stroop TaskChange from Baseline in Stroop Task to 3 and 6 months

Reaction time (RT) of correct responses in the Stroop Task

Working memory assessed with the N-back TaskChange from Baseline in the N-Back Task to 3 and 6 months

Hits-False Alarms in the N-back Task

Immediate verbal memory assessed with Pair-Words I (Weschler Memory Scale)Change from Baseline in Pair-Words I to 3 and 6 months

Units on the Scale: scale range for Recall (minimum score = 0 and maximum score = 32).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Physical dimension assessed with The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)Change from Baseline in SPPB to 3 and 6 months

Units on the Scale

Emotional and affective wellbeing assessed with Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)Change from Baseline in PANAS to 3 and 6 months

Units on the Scale: 20 items Each item is evaluated between 0 (nothing) and 5 (many). Positive emotions are assessed with items: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19. Negative emotions are assessed with items: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.

Demographic interview and medical historyBaseline

Respond to questions related to demographics and medical history

General depression state assessed with Yesavage Abbreviate Questionnaire. (GDS)Baseline

Units on the test: scale range (minimum score = 0 and maximum score = 15). Values between 0 and 5 points are considered as "no depression". Values between 5 and 10 points are considered as "mild depression" Values between 10 and 15 points are considered as "severe depression". This test is a screening test and it is not adequate to diagnose. In this protocol participants with scores greater than 5 will be excluded from the study.

Emotional and affective wellbeing assessed with The Life Satisfaction Index (LSI): 20 items Each item is assessed using two-point agree/disagree score rated items 0 for a response indicating dissatisfaction and 1 for satisfaction.Change from Baseline in LSI to 3 and 6 months

Units on the Scale: 20 items A two-point agree/disagree score rated items 0 for a response indicating dissatisfaction and 1 for satisfaction.

Cardio-respiratory capacity assessed with the 6 Minutes Walk TestChange from Baseline in 6 Minutes Walk Test to 3 and 6 months

Physiological parameter

General cognitive state assessed with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)Baseline

Units on the test: scale range (minimum score = 0 and maximum score = 30). Values between 27 and 30 points are considered as "appropriate cognitive state".

Values between 24 and 26 points are considered as "possible mild cognitive impairment" Values between 0 and 23 points are considered as "possible dementia". This test is a screening test and it is not adequate to diagnose. In this protocol participants with scores under 27 will be excluded from the study.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Basic Psychology II (UNED)

🇪🇸

Madrid, Spain

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