Effects of Adaptive Difficulty Computerized Cognitive Training on Cognitive Function Improvement in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

August 4, 2026 updated by: Zhang Ziyi, China Medical University, China
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of adaptive computerized cognitive training (CCT) in improving cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to compare the maintenance effects of different training frequencies after the initial intervention. A quasi-experimental study will be conducted in three communities in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. All participants will receive a 12-week adaptive CCT program. Participants will be assigned to either a high-frequency maintenance training group or a training discontinuation group. Cognitive assessments will be performed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and during follow-up. The primary outcome is global cognitive function, while secondary outcomes include memory, attention, executive function, language, visuospatial ability, and activities of daily living. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence for optimizing computerized cognitive training programs and long-term management strategies for older adults with MCI in community settings.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

With the rapid aging of the global population, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has become a critical stage for dementia prevention and early intervention. Cognitive training is recognized as one of the most effective non-pharmacological interventions for individuals with MCI. Among various approaches, adaptive computerized cognitive training (CCT) can dynamically adjust task difficulty according to an individual's performance, thereby improving training personalization, engagement, and adherence. However, evidence regarding the optimal maintenance training frequency and the long-term sustainability of cognitive benefits remains limited.

This study adopts a quasi-experimental design and will recruit community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older with MCI from three communities in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. All participants will complete a 12-week adaptive computerized cognitive training program using the Heling Brain Planet WeChat mini-program, with training sessions lasting 30 minutes, three times per week. After the initial intervention, participants will be assigned to either a high-frequency maintenance training group, which will continue training three times per week, or a training discontinuation group, which will receive routine community health management only. Follow-up cognitive assessments will be conducted after the intervention and during the follow-up period.

The primary outcome will be global cognitive function assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Secondary outcomes will include memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Test, AVLT), attention (Trail Making Test Part A, TMT-A), executive function (Stroop Color-Word Test), language (Boston Naming Test, BNT), visuospatial ability (Clock Drawing Test, CDT), and activities of daily living (ADL). The effects of different maintenance training frequencies on cognitive improvement and the persistence of intervention benefits will be compared.

This study is expected to evaluate the effectiveness of adaptive computerized cognitive training for improving cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults with MCI and to determine whether continued maintenance training can prolong cognitive benefits. The findings will provide evidence for optimizing community-based digital cognitive training programs and developing sustainable intervention strategies for the long-term management of older adults with MCI.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

36

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

Study Locations

  • China
    • Liaoning
      • Shenyang, Liaoning, China, 110000
        • Ren'ai Changwan Community Elderly Care Service Station, Dadong
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age >= 60 years;
  2. Planning to reside in the community for at least 12 months, with no intention to move into a nursing home;
  3. No clinical diagnosis of dementia;
  4. Meeting the diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as defined in the Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Mild Cognitive Impairment (2021), The cut-off scores for the Beijing version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were adjusted for educational level: <=13 for junior high school or below, <=19 for high school, and <=24 for college education or above. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score >= 24; Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score <23.
  5. Able to use a mobile application (mini program) to perform cognitive training.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Individuals unable to complete the questionnaires due to hearing or visual impairments;
  2. Those with other organic diseases of the central nervous system, such as brain tumors, epilepsy, or Parkinson's disease;
  3. Those diagnosed with severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety disorders.

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: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: High-Frequency Maintenance Training
Participants will receive adaptive computerized cognitive training using the Heling Brain Planet WeChat mini-program. During the initial intervention phase, participants will complete training sessions three times per week for 30 minutes per session over 12 weeks. After the initial intervention, participants will continue maintenance training three times per week until the end of the follow-up period. The training program automatically adjusts task difficulty according to individual performance and includes exercises targeting attention, memory, executive function, language, visuospatial ability, and other cognitive domains.
Behavioral: Adaptive Computerized Cognitive Training
Participants receive adaptive computerized cognitive training delivered through the Heling Brain Planet WeChat mini- program. The intervention consists of individualized cognitive exercises targeting multiple cognitive domains, including attention, memory, executive function, language, visuospatial ability, perceptual-motor function, and social cognition. The training difficulty is automatically adjusted according to each participant's performance to provide personalized cognitive stimulation. During the initial intervention phase, all participants complete 30-minute training sessions three times per week for 3 months. After the initial intervention, participants choose to continue training receive maintenance adaptive computerized cognitive training.
Behavioral: Adaptive Computerized Cognitive Training
Participants receive adaptive computerized cognitive training delivered through the Heling Brain Planet WeChat mini- program. The intervention consists of individualized cognitive exercises targeting multiple cognitive domains, including attention, memory, executive function, language, visuospatial ability, perceptual-motor function, and social cognition. The training difficulty is automatically adjusted according to each participant's performance to provide personalized cognitive stimulation. During the initial intervention phase, all participants complete 30-minute training sessions three times per week for 3 months. After the initial intervention, participants not to continue discontinue the intervention and undergo follow-up assessments only.
Other: Training Discontinuation Group
Participants will receive the same 12-week adaptive computerized cognitive training program during the initial intervention phase. After completing the initial intervention, no further computerized cognitive training will be provided. Participants will continue to receive routine community health management and will complete follow-up cognitive assessments according to the study schedule.
Behavioral: Adaptive Computerized Cognitive Training
Participants receive adaptive computerized cognitive training delivered through the Heling Brain Planet WeChat mini- program. The intervention consists of individualized cognitive exercises targeting multiple cognitive domains, including attention, memory, executive function, language, visuospatial ability, perceptual-motor function, and social cognition. The training difficulty is automatically adjusted according to each participant's performance to provide personalized cognitive stimulation. During the initial intervention phase, all participants complete 30-minute training sessions three times per week for 3 months. After the initial intervention, participants choose to continue training receive maintenance adaptive computerized cognitive training.
Behavioral: Adaptive Computerized Cognitive Training
Participants receive adaptive computerized cognitive training delivered through the Heling Brain Planet WeChat mini- program. The intervention consists of individualized cognitive exercises targeting multiple cognitive domains, including attention, memory, executive function, language, visuospatial ability, perceptual-motor function, and social cognition. The training difficulty is automatically adjusted according to each participant's performance to provide personalized cognitive stimulation. During the initial intervention phase, all participants complete 30-minute training sessions three times per week for 3 months. After the initial intervention, participants not to continue discontinue the intervention and undergo follow-up assessments only.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Change in global cognitive function assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Change in cognitive function assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Change in language function assessed by the Boston Naming Test (BNT)
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Change in attention assessed by the Trail Making Test Part A (TMT-A)
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Change in executive function assessed by the Stroop Color-Word Test
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Change in visuospatial function assessed by the Clock Drawing Test (CDT)
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Change in activities of daily living assessed by the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale
Time Frame: Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6
Baseline, Month 3, Month 4, and Month 6

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

China Medical University, China

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)

August 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 10, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 10, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 7, 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

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • China Medical University (china medical university and hospital)

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

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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