Improving Executive Control in Cognitively Healthy Older Adults: the MUltitasking STrategy (MUST) Study
Purpose
Developing efficient cognitive intervention for cognitively health older adults is a major public health goal, due to its potential for reducing age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease/dementia risk. Executive Control is a relevant cognitive target since it declines with aging and is critical for multi-tasking in daily life. The proposed research investigates whether playing a web-based cognitive complex game (the Breakfast Game) impacts cognitive performance in cognitively healthy older adults. To be enrolled in the study, participants will be asked to undergo a cognitive sassessment, health questionnires, and a blood exam. The intervention consist in one educational session on healthy aging, and 10 one-hour cognitive training sessions 2-3 times a week over one month. Participants will be asked to repeat the cognitive assessment within 1-2 weeks after the intervention, and after three months.
Conditions
- Healthy Aging
- Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Between 60 Years and 75 Years
- Eligible Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- Age 60-75 - Adequate English proficiency - Willingness to adhere to training protocol: - Attend 2 in-person assessments - Attend a blood test - Attend online intervention sessions and online follow-up assessment
Exclusion Criteria
- Low test scores (below 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment) - 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
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel Assignment
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
- Masking Description
- Participants will not be aware of the difference between the two active conditions. Assessor will not be aware in which group condition the participant was allocated.
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental Strategy Training |
Participants will undergo a web-based training protocol that involves playing an online game simulating a breakfast environment, where they will perform everyday activities such as "cooking" and "setting tables" in a multitasking fashion. Participants will learn to play the game using specific strategies to optimize their performance. |
|
|
Active Comparator Regular Training |
Participants will undergo a web-based training protocol that involves playing an online game simulating a breakfast environment, where they will perform everyday activities such as "cooking" and "setting tables" in a multitasking fashion. Participants will learn to play the game under regular game instructions. |
|
|
No Intervention Passive Control |
|
Recruiting Locations
Newark, New Jersey 07103
More Details
- NCT ID
- NCT06995638
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Study Contact
Thamiris Golçalves Clinical Research Coordinator, MS973-972-2977
engaging.lab@rutgers.edu
Detailed Description
The proposed research investigates whether exposure to a web-based training protocol designed to enhance executive control / multi-tasking abilities will improve cognitive performance in cognitively healthy older adults. Cognitively normal adults aged 60-75 will be randomized into three groups: 1) Web-based game with training strategy (Experimental); 2) Web-based game without training strategy (Active Control); 3) No intervention group (Passive control). Participants in groups 1 and 2 will be instructed to play the complex, high-demand online game, the Breakfast Game, for 10 one-hour sessions over 4 weeks. At study entry all participants will be asked to complete a cognitive assessment, health questionnaires, a blood exam and and education session on healthy aging. After the intervention, participants will be asked to repeat the cogntive assessment within 1-2 weeks, and after 3 months.