Improve New Learning and Memory in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment

July 21, 2026 updated by: Nancy Chiaravalloti, Kessler Foundation

Use of a Memory Technique to Improve New Learning and Memory in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment

The current study is a double-blind, placebo-control randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of memory retraining in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Impairment in higher level cognitive processing, such as new learning and memory, is one of the most common deficits in individuals with MCI and such deficits have been shown to exert significant negative impact on multiple aspects of everyday life, including occupational and social functioning. Despite these findings, few studies have attempted to treat these cognitive deficits in order to improve the everyday functioning of individuals with MCI. Through a small randomized clinical trial, the investigators found that individuals with MCI with documented cognitive impairment show a significant improvement in their memory performance following a treatment protocol designed to facilitate learning. The current proposal will replicate this finding and further evaluate (a) the impact of the treatment on everyday functioning, (b) the long term efficacy of the treatment and (c) the utility of booster sessions in facilitating long-term treatment effects. We will randomly assign older individuals who meet criteria for a diagnosis of amnestic MCI to a memory retraining group or a placebo control group. Both groups will undergo baseline, immediate and long-term follow-up assessment consisting of: (1) a traditional neuropsychological battery, (2) an assessment of global functioning examining the impact of the treatment on daily activities, and (3) functional neuroimaging. This design will allow the investigators to evaluate the efficacy of this particular memory retraining technique in an aMCI population through the assessment of cognitive function via a standard evaluation. In addition, the investigators will be able to draw conclusions regarding the impact of this particular memory remediation program on everyday life from questionnaires completed by the participant and a significant other. Optional enrollment in pre- post neuroimaging will also allow the investigators to look at changes in the brain.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
120

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Michigan
      • Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48105
        • Recruiting
        • University of Michigan
        • Contact:
    • New Jersey
      • West Orange, New Jersey, United States, 07052

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 60 or older.
  • read and speak English fluently.
  • Research based diagnosis of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Exclusion Criteria:

  • prior stroke or neurological injury/disease (i.e. traumatic brain injury, Multiple Sclerosis, or Stroke).
  • history of significant psychiatric illness (for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis).
  • significant alcohol or drug abuse history (inpatient treatment).
  • Benzodiazepines and steroid use

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Experimental Group
The experimental group will receive memory retraining exercises administered on a laptop computer twice a week for five weeks (10 training sessions).
Behavioral: Memory Retraining Exercises
Memory retraining exercises will be administered on a laptop computer twice a week for five weeks (10 training sessions).
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Control Group
The placebo control group will receive placebo memory exercises administered on a laptop computer twice a week for five weeks (10 placebo control sessions).
Behavioral: Placebo Control Memory Exercises
Placebo control memory exercises will be administered on a laptop computer twice a week for five weeks (10 training sessions).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Verbal list learning
Time Frame: four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Change in total score from Open-Trial Selective Reminding Test (OT-SRT)
four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Participation in everyday life
Time Frame: four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Change in total score from Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools
four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Self-reported depression
Time Frame: four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Change in total score on the Geriatric Depression Scale
four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Self-reported anxiety
Time Frame: four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Change in total score on the Geriatric Anxiety Scale
four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Self-reported quality of life
Time Frame: four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Change in total score on the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease
four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Self-reported quality of well-being
Time Frame: four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Change in total score on the Quality of Well-Being Scale - Self-Administered
four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Functional neuroimaging
Time Frame: two points in time: pre-treatment and immediately following treatment
Change in total scores from memory task during fMRI scan
two points in time: pre-treatment and immediately following treatment
Story memory
Time Frame: four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Change in total score from Prose Memory Test
four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Functional memory
Time Frame: four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Change in total score from Object Location Task
four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Functional memory
Time Frame: four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed
Change in total score from the modified Everyday Memory Scenarios (EMS)
four points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- and 18- months after treatment is completed

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Kessler Foundation

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University of Michigan
Michigan State University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Nancy Chiaravalloti, Kessler Foundation

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 28, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 18, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 27, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 31, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 21, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • R-1183-22

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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