Cognitive and neural benefits of brain training.

• Register: ANZCTR
• Last refreshed on: 22 February 2013
• Main ID: ACTRN12611000702910
• Date of registration: 08/07/2011
• Primary sponsor: Individual Dr Michael Valenzuela
• Public title: Cognitive and neural benefits of brain training.
• Scientific title: Double-blind, randomised clinical trial timecourse changes in response to computerised cognitive training compared to active control training in a group of cognitively healthy older adults, as measured with a battery of cognitive tests and MRI scans.
• Date of first enrolment: 28/06/2011
• Target sample size: 80
• Recruitment status: Closed: follow-up continuing
• URL: http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12611000702910.aspx
• Study type: Interventional
• Study design: Randomised controlled trial Parallel

Countries of recruitment

Australia

Contacts

• Name: Mr Mr Amit Lampit

• Name: A/Prof Dr Michael Valenzuela

Key inclusion & exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: (1) Non-demented, non-depressed older adults; (2) physical ability to attend brain training sessions 3 times a week
Exclusion criteria: (1) history, diagnosis or treatment for dementia (of any aetiology); (2) diagnosis or treatment for depression in last 6 months; (3) history of stroke in last 12 months; (4) major neurological disorder requiring current treatment (epilepsy); (5) major psychiatric disorder requiring current treatment (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder); (6) physical (sensory or motor) impairment that would limit ability to engage with training; (7) lack of personal informant who sees the person at least once a week; (8) current undertaking of any other Brain Training program; (9) current alcohol abuse.

Age minimum: 65 Years
Age maximum: 0 No limit
Gender: Both males and females

Health Condition(s) or Problem(s) studied

Neuroplasticity in the cognitively healthy elderly

Intervention(s)

26 exercises from the COGPACK package, a suite of exercises that are largely based upon well-established neuropsychological tests and principles. Multiple exercises will be used to target the one generic cognitive domain and exercises will include both verbal and visual modalities. Training will be administered in three 1-hour sessions every week for a total period of 12 weeks (i.e. a total of 36 hours), supervised by a member of the research team.

Primary Outcome(s)

Scores in (1) A subset of tests taken from Mindstreams: Verbal Memory, Non Verbal Memory, Staged Information Processing Speed, Stroop Interference; (2) "Stockings of Cambridge," a problem solving test from the CANTAB.

Scores in (1)a computer-based adaptation of WAIS 4 Matrix Reasoning test; (2) Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT); (3) the Boston Naming Test (short versions) and (4) a computerised adaptation of the Recognition Memory Test.

Secondary Outcome(s)

(1) Structural plasticity: T1-weighted isometric 3D scan; (2) Biochemical plasticity: Magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of metabolites in both the hippocampus and posterior cingulate; (3) Functional plasticity: resting state fMRI scan; and (4) White matter plasticity: Diffusion Tractography Imaging. These outcomes collected on a subsample of n=15 subjects.

Bayer Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (B-ADL)

Secondary ID(s)

Nil

Source(s) of Monetary Support

Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre

Secondary Sponsor(s)

A/Prof Sharon Naismith