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NCT Number: NCT01978353

Memory Training in Patients With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Preview research reports evidence of cognitive plasticity among individuals with amnestic Mild cognitive Impairment, and small-size studies have suggest that this population can benefit from memory training. This project intends to assess the efficacy of cognitive training in persons with MCI with a randomized controlled design.

The hypothesis is that cognitive training can improve memory performance for persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and this improvement can be maintained over time.

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Key information

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment Alzheimer Disease Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cognition Disorders Cognitive Dysfunction Dementia Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Neurodegenerative Diseases Tauopathies

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine, Institute and Department of Psychiatry

São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil

About this study

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) often represents a transitional state between healthy aging and dementia, being considered a public health problem especially due to the increase of elder population in Brazil and in the World in general. Yet the conclusions of studies on pharmacological treatments for this population are still controversial, making imperative to invest on new efficient therapies such as non pharmacological interventions aimed at memory improvement.

One training mode that has benefited elders is the association between names and faces, which has a compelling clinical relevance considering that one of the main complains among elders is the difficulty in remembering names. However, the exact effects of this kind of training in elders (i.e. the eventual changes in cognition and in brain activation on Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are still unclear.

Therefore, this study aims to verify the effects of memory training (name-face association) compared with control intervention - psychoeducation, in 30 elders with amnestic MCI. We will request the participants with amnestic MCI to submit to a Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) in order to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis. Training and psychoeducation will be conducted in 4 sessions (two per week). To assess the effects, we will use cognitive instruments and MRI exams before and after the intervention. Also, one and three months after the conclusion of the training patients will again be submitted to cognitive tests.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Portuguese as native and preferred language; A minimum of 4 years of education; MRI-compatible; Right-handed individuals; Normal corrected vision and hearing; Estimated intelligence average or above (≥ 80 IQ); Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment identified by a doctor and neuropsychological tests; Able to give informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

History of neurological disorder; History of serious systemic disease; History of severe mental illness; Current untreated alcohol or substance abuse; Medical conditions that compromise in any way the central nervous system; Presence of visual impairment and / or hearing to preclude cognitive testing; Presence of contraindications to MRI exam; Findings in structural MRI that can interfere with the results of the study.

Treatment and study plan

memory training

Behavioral

Participants receive memory training to facilitate learning and memory of face-name associations

Psychoeducation

Behavioral

Participants receive information about memory functioning and aging

Primary outcomes

  1. Changes in memory measures

    Time frame: Baseline and within two weeks after intervention

    Word list learning test, behavioral performance on experimental stimuli - face-name memory task (accuracy, reaction time, confidence level)

  2. Changes in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

    Time frame: Baseline and within two weeks after intervention

    fMRI correlates of behavioral performance at face-name task

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in perception of memory performance and mood

    Time frame: Baseline, within two weeks after intervention

    Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory

  2. Changes in memory performance and perception of memory performance over time - follow up

    Time frame: One and three months after intervention

    Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory, Word list learning test and behavioral performance on experimental stimuli - face-name memory task (accuracy, reaction time, confidence level)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Sao Paulo General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Episodic Memory Training for Face Name Association in Patients With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: Cognitive Measures and Functional Resonance Magnetic Imaging Outcomes

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Nov 7, 2013
Registry last updated
Oct 26, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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