Training Cognitive Control Processes in Older Adults

Neurologic Manifestations Clinical Trial

Official title:

Pilot Study Using a Video Game to Train Cognitive Control Processes in Healthy Older Adults

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00586638
• Other study ID #: AAAC6151
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: December 20, 2007
• Last updated: August 3, 2015
• Start date: December 2007
• Est. completion date: February 2010

Study information

• Verified date: August 2015
• Source: Columbia University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Control processes are classes of brain activity that initiate, coordinate, synchronize, and regulate elemental cognitive functions for the conduct of goal-directed behavior. The proposed research investigates whether exposure to a computer-based training protocol designed to enhance cognitive control processes will improve cognitive performance in healthy older adults.

Description:

The proposed research investigates whether exposure to a computer-based training protocol designed to enhance cognitive control processes will improve cognitive performance in healthy older adults. Cognitively normal adults aged 60-75 will be randomized into three experimental groups: 1) Video game play with training strategy; 2) Video game play without training strategy (Active Control); 3) Minimal contact (Passive Control). Subjects in Groups 1 and 2 will be instructed to play the complex, high-demand video game, Space Fortress, for 36 one-hour sessions over 12 weeks. Subjects in Group 3 will receive all assessments but will not play the computer game.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 60
• Est. completion date: February 2010
• Est. primary completion date: February 2010
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 60 Years to 75 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 60-75

• Willingness to adhere to training protocol

• Adequate English proficiency

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known history of cognitive impairment, dementia, stroke, seizure disorder, or other neuropsychiatric condition judged to impact cognitive performance

• Taking medications known to influence cognitive performance

• Sensory (e.g. visual, auditory) or physical (e.g. severe arthritic, orthopedic, neurologic) impairment incompatible with use of a standard computer workstation.

• Enrolled in a concurrent study that could affect the outcome of this study

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Subject)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Neurobehavioral Manifestations
• Neurologic Manifestations

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Video game based training
36 one-hour sessions over 12 weeks

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Columbia University Medical Center	New York	New York

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Columbia University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (2)

Blumen HM, Gopher D, Steinerman JR, Stern Y. Training cognitive control in older adults with the space fortress game: the role of training instructions and basic motor ability. Front Aging Neurosci. 2010 Nov 11;2:145. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2010.00145. eColle — View Citation

Stern Y, Blumen HM, Rich LW, Richards A, Herzberg G, Gopher D. Space Fortress game training and executive control in older adults: a pilot intervention. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2011 Nov;18(6):653-77. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2011.613 — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Neuropsychological testing		Week 1, 12, 24	No
Primary	Cognitive-experimental tasks		Week 1, 6, 12, 24	No