Training Cognitive Control Processes in Older Adults

August 3, 2015 updated by: Yaakov Stern, Columbia University

Pilot Study Using a Video Game to Train Cognitive Control Processes in Healthy Older Adults

Control processes are classes of brain activity that initiate, coordinate, synchronize, and regulate elemental cognitive functions for the conduct of goal-directed behavior. The proposed research investigates whether exposure to a computer-based training protocol designed to enhance cognitive control processes will improve cognitive performance in healthy older adults.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The proposed research investigates whether exposure to a computer-based training protocol designed to enhance cognitive control processes will improve cognitive performance in healthy older adults. Cognitively normal adults aged 60-75 will be randomized into three experimental groups: 1) Video game play with training strategy; 2) Video game play without training strategy (Active Control); 3) Minimal contact (Passive Control). Subjects in Groups 1 and 2 will be instructed to play the complex, high-demand video game, Space Fortress, for 36 one-hour sessions over 12 weeks. Subjects in Group 3 will receive all assessments but will not play the computer game.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10032
        • Columbia University Medical Center

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

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 60-75
  • Willingness to adhere to training protocol
  • Adequate English proficiency

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 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 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

  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1
Video Game play with training strategy
Behavioral: Video game based training
36 one-hour sessions over 12 weeks
Active Comparator: 2
Video game play without training strategy
Behavioral: Video game based training
36 one-hour sessions over 12 weeks
No Intervention: 3
Minimal contact control

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Neuropsychological testing
Time Frame: Week 1, 12, 24
Week 1, 12, 24
Cognitive-experimental tasks
Time Frame: Week 1, 6, 12, 24
Week 1, 6, 12, 24

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Columbia University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yaakov Stern, Ph.D., Columbia University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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

December 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2010

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 20, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 21, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

January 4, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 5, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 3, 2015

Last Verified

August 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AAAC6151

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.

Subscribe