Chronic Phase Stroke Patients Clinical Trial
This project will investigate the effectiveness of an intensive and focused working memory training program for chronic stroke patients. The investigators hypothesize that working memory training will be an effective method of improving working memory and related cognitive and behavioural functions in this population.
Vascular cognitive impairment due to vascular disease and stroke frequently includes
problems with attention, working memory and executive functions (e.g., monitoring, planning,
and organization).
These deficits are common - 32-73%, and chronic, and interfere with a patients response to
rehabilitation, independence in activities of daily living, community re-integration, and
overall quality of life after stroke. Attention, memory and executive function impairments
can adversely affect the ability to relearn various skills.
Cognitive impairments and their impacts on other components of functioning not only impact
on the individual, but can also adversely affect the family via increases in caregiver
distress and burden. Thus, the presence of cognitive impairment has wide-reaching impact and
deserves effective and consistent intervention similar to the attention devoted to improving
function in physical domains.
Cognitive training can improve cognitive function, particularly in those areas known to
involved in vascular cognitive impairment, i.e., attentional and executive function.
Accumulating evidence indicates that computer-based training can improve cognitive skills in
healthy older adults as well as in clinical populations. Attention and working memory
training has also been shown to be effective in patients in the chronic phase post stroke.
The investigators propose that specific cognitive training to improve working memory could
provide direct benefit to chronic stroke patients. Promising interventions focused on
intensive and direct working memory training are emerging and have been shown to generalize
to other cognitive domains, such as fluid intelligence.
;
Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment