Measuring Brain Changes Following Cognitive Intervention in Pediatric Patients With Brain Tumors
August 4, 2026 updated by: Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
The goal of this study is to learn if an online computerized training program improves processing speed, attention, and working memory in children with a primary brain tumor during and after active cancer treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Is the cognitive intervention feasible to administer to children with brain tumors during and after cancer treatment?,
- Is the cognitive intervention acceptable to children and caregivers?, and
- Does the cognitive intervention improve neuropsychological functioning?
There is no comparison group for this study.
Participants will:
- Complete an online computerized cognitive training program for approximately 15 minutes per day, 5 days a week, for 8 weeks;
- Have weekly check-ins with the cognitive coach,
- Complete a survey at the end of the cognitive training program, and
- Complete pre- and post- neuropsychological testing.
Study Overview
Status
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Estimated)
300
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 Contact
- Name: Emily J Amsden, BS
- Phone Number: 215-316-2343
- Email: amsden@kennedykrieger.org
Study Locations
-
-
Maryland
-
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205
- Kennedy Krieger Institute
-
Contact:
- Emily J Amsden, BS
- Phone Number: 215-316-2343
- Email: amsden@kennedykriger.org
-
Principal Investigator:
- Rachel K Peterson, PhD
-
-
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
- Child
- Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of a primary brain tumor,
- Children and young adults 5 to 25 years of age at the time of enrollment,
- Within five years of initial brain tumor diagnosis,
- Receiving care through the Johns Hopkins neuro-oncology program.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Significant visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairment that precludes participation in computerized cognitive training program;
- Acute medical status (e.g., significant risk for mortality within 3-months of diagnosis).
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: Supportive Care
- Allocation: N/A
- Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
- Masking: None (Open Label)
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Cognitive Intervention
Computerized cognitive training program focused on processing speed.
|
This online cognitive training program aims to improve processing speed through computerized cognitive exercises.
Participants will complete approximately 15 minutes of training, 5 days per week for 8 weeks.
Weekly check-ins with a cognitive coach will assist with engagement and problem solve any barriers.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Feasibility - Enrollment
Time Frame: Up to 5 years after diagnosis.
|
Study enrollment rate.
|
Up to 5 years after diagnosis.
|
|
Feasibility - Participant Retention
Time Frame: 8 weeks
|
Number of participants who complete the computerized brain training program.
|
8 weeks
|
|
Feasibility - Intervention Adherence
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 8 weeks.
|
Number of levels completed in the cognitive training program.
Qualitative feedback regarding barriers and facilitators to engagement will also we collected to provide descriptive context.
|
Through study completion, an average of 8 weeks.
|
|
Feasibility - Total Intervention Time
Time Frame: 8 weeks
|
Total time spent completing the cognitive training program exercises.
|
8 weeks
|
|
Acceptability
Time Frame: At the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
Parent and self-reported acceptability measured using a Likert-scale questionnaire administered at the end of the intervention.
Mean total score will be reported.
Qualitative feedback regarding participant experience will also be collected to provide descriptive context.
|
At the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Cognitive Training Task-Based Performance
Time Frame: Prior to the intervention, immediately following intervention, and 6 months after intervention completion.
|
Changes in neuropsychological functioning, as measured by the train-to-task activity.
|
Prior to the intervention, immediately following intervention, and 6 months after intervention completion.
|
|
Processing Speed
Time Frame: Prior to the intervention, immediately following intervention, and 6 months after intervention completion.
|
Changes in processing speed as measured by the NIH toolbox.
|
Prior to the intervention, immediately following intervention, and 6 months after intervention completion.
|
|
Attention
Time Frame: Prior to the intervention, immediately following intervention, and 6 months after intervention completion.
|
Changes in attention as measured by the NIH toolbox.
|
Prior to the intervention, immediately following intervention, and 6 months after intervention completion.
|
|
Working Memory
Time Frame: Prior to the intervention, immediately following intervention, and 6 months after intervention completion.
|
Changes in working memory as measured by the NIH toolbox.
|
Prior to the intervention, immediately following intervention, and 6 months after intervention completion.
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Rachel K Peterson, PhD, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
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
- Meneses K, Benz R, Bail JR, Vo JB, Triebel K, Fazeli P, Frank J, Vance DE. Speed of processing training in middle-aged and older breast cancer survivors (SOAR): results of a randomized controlled pilot. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2018 Feb;168(1):259-267. doi: 10.1007/s10549-017-4564-2. Epub 2017 Nov 11.
- Maeir T, Makranz C, Peretz T, Odem E, Tsabari S, Nahum M, Gilboa Y. Cognitive Retraining and Functional Treatment (CRAFT) for adults with cancer related cognitive impairment: a preliminary efficacy study. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Feb 7;31(3):152. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07611-y.
- Jacola LM, Peterson RK, Oswald-McCloskey KA, Sekely A, Mabbott DJ, Edelstein K. Neuropsychological function in childhood cancer patients and adult survivors of childhood cancer. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2025 Oct;47(8):788-805. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2025.2521018. Epub 2025 Jul 9.
- Areklett EW, Hagen BI, Stubberud J, Fagereng E, Andersson S, Lindemann K. Digital goal management training for cognitive impairment in cervical cancer survivors-a randomized comparison study. J Cancer Surviv. 2026 Jun;20(3):978-989. doi: 10.1007/s11764-024-01701-4. Epub 2024 Nov 22.
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 (Estimated)
July 30, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
July 30, 2031
Study Completion (Estimated)
April 1, 2033
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
March 19, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
April 23, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
April 30, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
August 7, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 4, 2026
Last Verified
August 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- IRB00519695
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
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