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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03073954

Working Memory Training in COPD Patients: the Cogtrain-Trial

General cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Domain-specific cognitive impairments include deficits in domains such as cognitive flexibility, verbal memory, working memory, planning, and psychomotor speed; which in general are associated with poor health behaviours, such as infrequent exercising and poor diet. Additional cognitive training may reverse these effects. Recent evidence suggests that working memory training is linked to self-control and, indirectly, to improved lifestyle behaviour including increased physical activity. The investigators hypothesise that enhancing cognitive performance through administering specific working memory training not only improves cognitive function but that it facilitates better adherence to a more active lifestyle and a healthier diet in COPD patients.

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Key information

Conditions

COPD Behavior Chronic Disease Cognition Disorders Cognitive Dysfunction Cognitive Impairment Disease Attributes Health Behavior Impulsive Behavior Lung Diseases Lung Diseases, Obstructive Mental Disorders Neurocognitive Disorders Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Tract Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Maastricht University

Maastricht, Limburg, 6200MD, Netherlands

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • primary diagnosis of COPD based on the Global Initiative for Chronic obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines
  • Patients also need to provide written informed consent
  • Be motivated as evaluated by the self-determination questionnaire

Exclusion criteria

  • Disease and or disability limiting the ability to undergo a neuropsychological testing battery and/or to follow a working memory training (e.g., blindness)
  • Neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease or cerebrovascular disease)
  • Insufficient mastery of the Dutch language
  • Individuals who during the study period are or will be participating in a PR programme

Treatment and study plan

Working Memory Training

Other

The working memory intervention training programme consists of a domain-general cognitive working memory training programme. One training session will take 20 to 30 minutes, and participants will have to complete approximately 40 cognitive training sessions.

The sham treatment is the same as the intervention training however it does not increase in difficulty. Participants are presented with the same task at the same level of difficulty over and over again. Thus a training effect is not expected.

Standardised healthy lifestyle coaching

Behavioral

Participants will receive standardised healthy living coaching focusing on healthy diet and daily physical activity.

Primary outcomes

  1. Feasibility of the cognitive training in COPD patients as measured through training compliance.

    Time frame: 6 months

    The compliance as well as the acceptability of working memory training in the COPD patient population will be investigated

  2. Change in cognitive performance before and after working memory training as assessed through a cognitive test performance battery.

    Time frame: 6 months

    Improvement in cognitive flexibility, planning, and working memory.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Self-control (impulsivity)

    Time frame: 6 months

    This will be measured using the stop signal task.

  2. Chronic stress levels as measured through hair levels of cortisol

    Time frame: 6 months

    An objective measure of stress levels experienced over the last 3 months will be measured using cortisol extracted from a hair sample.

  3. Stress levels as measured through the salivary cortisol awakening response

    Time frame: 6 months

    An objective measure of stress will be measured using salivary cortisol awakening response

  4. Stress perception as assessed through a perceived stress scale.

    Time frame: 6 months

    A subjective measure of chronic stress will be measured using the perceived stress scale score.

  5. Acute stress as assessed through the socially evaluated cold pressor test

    Time frame: 6 months

    Acute stress will be measured using the socially evaluated cold pressor test, heart rate is also monitored.

  6. Daily physical activity level

    Time frame: 6 months

    Physical activity data will be collected by an accelerometer using step counts.

  7. Mental health, depressive symptoms assessed via the BDI-II

    Time frame: 6 months

    Mental health with respect to depression will be evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory-second edition (BDI-II)

  8. Mental health, anxiety symptoms assessed via the GAD-7

    Time frame: 6 months

    Mental health with respect to anxiety will be evaluated using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)

  9. Physical performance assessed through the 6 minute walk test

    Time frame: 6 months

    Changes in physical performance will be assessed using the 6-minute walking test (6MWT).Two six-minute walk tests (6MWT) will be performed according to ERS/ATS guidelines to measure functional exercise capacity. The best 6MWT will be expressed in percentage of predicted values.

  10. Self-determination questionnaire

    Time frame: 6 months

    Motivation will be prior to the enrolment of participants in this study in order to include patients who are motivated to initiate and continue our working memory training. The self-made questionnaire evaluates patient's reasons for participating in the study in order to assess their intrinsic motivation.

  11. Short Performance Battery

    Time frame: 6 months

    The SPPB consists of three types of physical manoeuvres: the balance tests, the gait speed test, and the chair stand test. The results of the different tests result in a score which will be used for analysis.

  12. Changes in dietary intake over the intervention period

    Time frame: 6 months

    Changes in dietary intake over the intervention period will be assessed using a food frequency questionnaire.

  13. Medication adherence

    Time frame: 6 months

    Medication adherence will be measured using a sem

  14. Regulation of Eating Behavior Scale (REBS)

    Time frame: 6 months

    Changes in eating behavior motivation will be investigated using the REBS.

  15. Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2) Regulation

    Time frame: 6 months

    Changes in exercise motivation will be investigated using the BREQ-2

  16. COPD Assessment test (CAT)

    Time frame: 6 months

    Impact of the intervention on quality of life will be done using the brief CAT questionnaire.

  17. Anthropometry

    Time frame: 6 months

    Alterations in Anthropometical measures will be evaluated using waist circumference, biometric impedance, and body weight (BMI).

  18. Manipulation Check

    Time frame: 6 months

    Participants will be asked to recall key health messages from their personalized healthy lifestyle advice sessions. Responses will be scored as follows: 0 points - field blank or no recall of the message content; 1 point - key points not directly related to the message themes; 2 points - key points directly related to the message themes.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Maastricht University Medical Center

Other

Collaborators

  • Eatwell

Registry information

Official study title

The Feasibility of Working Memory Training in COPD Patients and the Efficacy on Cognitive Performance, Self-Control and Stress Response

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Mar 8, 2017
Registry last updated
Sep 28, 2022

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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