An Examination of Visual Perceptual Training

Age-Related Memory Disorders Clinical Trial

Official title:

An Examination of Visual Perceptual Training in Older Adults With Subjective Memory Complaints

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03763344
• Other study ID #: 19-123
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 28, 2017
• Est. completion date: July 15, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: September 2021
• Source: University of Victoria
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Perceptual-cognitive training (PCT) is a computerized software game has been shown to improve sport performance in young elite athletes and even to aid in recovery speeds post-concussion. PCT may represent a unique type of training that could ultimately enhance cognitive performance or quality of life in all populations. What is not clear is whether PCT is beneficial to older adults with subjective memory complaints (SMCs). SMCs in older adults are an early risk indicator for Alzheimer's disease, making older adults with SMCs a target population for proactive interventions. The aim of this study was to determine if PCT can serve as a proactive intervention and enhance cognitive abilities in older adults with SMCs. The results of this research protocol introduce a new way of prevention from cognitive decline in healthy older adults and may introduce a new training programs for age-related memory disorder.

Description:

This study was approved by the University of Victoria Human Research Ethics Board (Protocol Number 17-167) and all participants provided their informed written consent prior to participating in this study. In order to reduce the placebo effect, the participants were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups. Participants from both the experimental and control groups received a total of three neuropsychological assessments over a three month period (i.e. baseline, 7 weeks, 11 weeks). Considering that an essential methodological component of the training studies is the use of standardized neuropsychological tests, validated and reliable measures such as STROOP TEST, DIGIT SPAN TEST, TRAIL MAKING TEST, VERBAL FLUENCY TESTS, CALIFORNIA VERBAL LEARNING TEST Second Edition (i.e., standard and alternate forms), were used at different time points. Each assessment was 50-60 minutes in duration and was administered by an expert neuropsychology resident. The first assessment was administered at baseline . Then, the experimental group underwent seven weeks of perceptual cognitive training, while the control group completed seven weeks without formal training. The treatment for the PCT group consisted of 14 sessions of training each lasting 25-30 min, twice per week for seven weeks. After the seven-week time period, a second neuropsychological assessment was performed on both groups. After eleven weeks, a follow-up assessment was conducted to verify whether the benefits of cognitive training endure over time.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 73
• Est. completion date: July 15, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: June 30, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 60 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 60 and over;

• Have subjective cognitive complaints;

• The results of the screening test Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) should be = 24 (this test is used only at baseline visit to verify if the participant might be included in the sample or not).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of medical diagnosis of a Major Neurocognitive Disorder (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, front temporal lobe dementia, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia),

• Presence of sensory deficits (e.g. colour blindness, monocular/binocular blindness, macular degeneration),

• Presence of psychiatric disorders (i.e. depression, anxiety),

• The participants with scores under 24 at MMSE screening test will be excluded and sent to the family doctor (i.e. to minimize the risk of including people with pre-clinical dementia).

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Age-Related Memory Disorders
• Memory Disorders

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Perceptual Cognitive Training (PCT)
Perceptual Cognitive Training (PCT) will be performed by having individuals work with a visual perceptual training software program called NeuroTracker. This device uses Multiple Object Tracking at increasing difficulties to develop high-level brain functions critical to recovery & cognitive health. By increasing in difficulty with each correct response and decreasing in difficulty when mistakes are made, brain function is constantly challenged. Each session (6 mins) delivers a series of mini-tests where the patient needs to remember key targets, then track them moving among distractors for several seconds and then identify them. Simple to do, but always challenging, NeuroTracker adaptively optimizes difficulty to each patient's level, maximizing cognitive stimulation every step of the way.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	University of Victoria	Victoria	British Columbia

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Victoria

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

References & Publications (6)

Anguera JA, Boccanfuso J, Rintoul JL, Al-Hashimi O, Faraji F, Janowich J, Kong E, Larraburo Y, Rolle C, Johnston E, Gazzaley A. Video game training enhances cognitive control in older adults. Nature. 2013 Sep 5;501(7465):97-101. doi: 10.1038/nature12486. — View Citation

Berry AS, Zanto TP, Clapp WC, Hardy JL, Delahunt PB, Mahncke HW, Gazzaley A. The influence of perceptual training on working memory in older adults. PLoS One. 2010 Jul 14;5(7):e11537. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011537. — View Citation

Cavanagh P, Alvarez GA. Tracking multiple targets with multifocal attention. Trends Cogn Sci. 2005 Jul;9(7):349-54. Review. — View Citation

Faubert J. Visual perception and aging. Can J Exp Psychol. 2002 Sep;56(3):164-76. — View Citation

Parsons B, Magill T, Boucher A, Zhang M, Zogbo K, Bérubé S, Scheffer O, Beauregard M, Faubert J. Enhancing Cognitive Function Using Perceptual-Cognitive Training. Clin EEG Neurosci. 2016 Jan;47(1):37-47. doi: 10.1177/1550059414563746. Epub 2014 Dec 30. — View Citation

Tullo D, Guy J, Faubert J, Bertone A. Training with a three-dimensional multiple object-tracking (3D-MOT) paradigm improves attention in students with a neurodevelopmental condition: a randomized controlled trial. Dev Sci. 2018 Nov;21(6):e12670. doi: 10.1111/desc.12670. Epub 2018 Apr 30. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in memory performance in older adults with SMCs	Assessed by CALIFORNIA VERBAL LEARNING TEST	First neuropsychological assessment (Baseline). After seven week period both groups underwent the second neuropsychological assessment (Week 7). After eleven weeks a follow-up assessment was conducted (Week 11).
Secondary	Change in processing speed in older adults with SMCs	Assessed by Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System™ (D-KEFS™).	First neuropsychological assessment (Baseline). After seven week period both groups underwent the second neuropsychological assessment (Week 7). After eleven weeks a follow-up assessment was conducted (Week 11).
Secondary	Change in cognitive flexibility in older adults with SMCs	Assessed by Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System™ (D-KEFS™)	First neuropsychological assessment (Baseline). After seven week period both groups underwent the second neuropsychological assessment (Week 7). After eleven weeks a follow-up assessment was conducted (Week 11).
Secondary	Change in cognitive flexibility in older adults with SMCs	Assessed by Stroop Test	First neuropsychological assessment (Baseline). After seven week period both groups underwent the second neuropsychological assessment (Week 7). After eleven weeks a follow-up assessment was conducted (Week 11).
Secondary	Change in working memory in in older adults with SMCs	Assessed by Digit Span Test	First neuropsychological assessment (Baseline). After seven week period both groups underwent the second neuropsychological assessment (Week 7). After eleven weeks a follow-up assessment was conducted (Week 11).