Diet and Cognitive Training in Hematologic Cancer Survivors

Cognitive Impairment Clinical Trial

Official title: A Multi-component Non-pharmacological Intervention to Improve Cognitive Outcomes in Hematologic Cancer Survivors

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to examine feasibility of a cognitive intervention program in blood cancer survivors. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• is it feasible to combine a ketogenic diet supplementation and online cognitive training in an intervention program

• will patients using the combined intervention program have improved cognitive functioning compared to those who don't use it

• how long will the intervention programs effects last

Participants randomized to the intervention arm will consume an exogenous ketogenic supplementation and use an online cognitive training program for 12 weeks, while waitlist arm functions as a control group and will receive the online cognitive training only after a wait period of 12 weeks. Researchers will compare the intervention and waitlist control groups to see if the intervention improves cognitive functioning.

Clinical Trial Description

The investigators propose using "off-the-shelf" products in a 12-week multicomponent cognitive intervention program to address the cognitive impairment in outpatient hematologic malignancy survivors. The program includes two components: i) A modified ketogenic diet using an exogenous ketogenic supplementation using the KetoCal product ([https://shop.myketocal.com/product/ketocal-41-lq]) and ii) online cognitive training using Lumosity program (http://www.lumosity.com/).

A ketogenic diet is characterized by high fat, moderate protein and very low carbohydrate intake. Participants will follow a modified ketogenic diet consuming exogenous Ketocal tetrapaks daily to substitute ~700 calories of their daily calorie needs and limit their carbohydrate intake while maintaining an eucaloric diet. The KetoCal is a nutritionally complete, ready-to-feed ketogenic meal replacement product. The study goal is to achieve safe and tolerable levels of mild nutritional ketosis (0.5-2mmol/L betahydroxybutyrate (BHB) blood concentration). Diet education will be provided to participants on how and when to consume the KetoCal formula, foods and beverages consistent with a ketogenic diet and foods and beverages to avoid, and how to measure the ketosis using a breathalyzer daily. Safety and Tolerability monitoring will occur by recording treatment-emergent and/or treatment-related adverse events, regular monitoring of weight and satiety levels, and routine laboratory testing using fasting blood samples at baseline and 12 weeks.

The Lumosity program offers over 60 tasks in game-like format that cover the main cognitive domains: processing speed, working memory, attention and executive function. Training will involve a daily session of 5 training tasks for 12 weeks. Each time the patient is logged in for a session, a customized report will be generated by the Lumosity program to capture performance information.

Participants' cognitive functioning will be assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using objectively measured cognitive function to estimate the preliminary efficacy of intervention program; and at 24 weeks to examine the sustained effects of the multi-component intervention program.

The findings from this project will inform a definitive phase III trial of a multi-component intervention to improve cognitive outcomes in patients with hematologic malignancy. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cognitive Impairment
• Hematologic Malignancy
• Hematologic Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT05708716
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Contact: Noha M Sharafeldin, MD, MSc, PhD
• Phone: 2056382144
• Email: nsharafeldin@uabmc.edu
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 22, 2022
• Completion date: April 30, 2026