Print

Purpose

The investigators propose to conduct a single-blind randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of a computerized cognitive remediation intervention program on improving locomotion in sedentary seniors, a group at an especially high risk for disability. The hypothesis is that executive functions will respond to the cognitive remediation program and in turn enhance locomotion.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 70 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Adults aged 70 and older, residing in the community. 2. Plan to be in area for next year. 3. Able to speak English at a level sufficient to undergo our cognitive assessment battery. 4. Ambulatory. Subjects are classified as 'non-ambulatory' if they are unable to leave the confines of their home and attend a clinic visit. 5. Gait velocity ≤1 m/s. 6. Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤9.

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Presence of dementia identified by any one of the following: Telephone based Memory Impairment Screen score (T-MIS) of <5, Alzheimer's Disease 8 (AD8) ≥ 2. Or dementia diagnosed by baseline cognitive assessment. 2. Serious chronic or acute illness such as cancer (late stage, metastatic, or on active treatment), chronic pulmonary disease on ventilator or continuous oxygen therapy or active liver disease. 3. Mobility limitations solely due to musculoskeletal limitation or pain (e.g., severe osteoarthritis) that prevent subjects from completing mobility tests. Presence of arthritis will not be used to exclude subjects if they can complete the mobility tasks. 4. Any medical condition or chronic medication use (e.g., neuroleptics) that will compromise safety or affect cognitive functioning or terminal illness with life expectancy less than 12 months. 5. Presence of progressive, degenerative neurologic disease (e.g., Parkinson's disease or ALS). 6. Hospitalized in the past 6 months for severe illness or surgery that specifically affects mobility (e.g. hip or knee replacement) and that prevent subjects from completing mobility tests or plans for surgery affecting mobility in the next 6 months. 7. Severe auditory or visual loss. 8. Active psychoses or psychiatric symptoms (such as agitation) noted during the clinic visit that will prevent completion of study protocols. 9. Living in nursing home. 10. Participation in other intervention trial or observational studies. -

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Participant)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Cognitive Remediation 		An individualized computerized cognitive remediation program.
  • Other: Cognitive Remediation
    This computerized program has successfully been used by seniors in different settings. It trains a number of cognitive processes including attention and Executive Function.The Cognitive Remediation (CREM) training is constructed based on the program's built in baseline cognitive evaluation.
Active Comparator
Active control 		Individualized computer based exposure and interactive health education classes.
  • Other: Active Control
    Computer, multimedia and group based health education programs.

More Details

Status
Completed
Sponsor
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Study Contact

Detailed Description

Emerging evidence indicates that Executive Functions play an important role in maintaining locomotion in aging and preventing mobility disabilities. However, use of cognitive training programs to improve executive functions as a strategy to increase mobility has not been explored. Exciting results from the preliminary study support the efficacy and feasibility of the cognitive remediation approach to improve locomotion in older adults. The premise of this clinical trial is that disability among seniors is a potentially preventable chronic condition rather than an irreversible consequence of aging and disease. The investigators proposed novel approach to locomotion has the potential to shift treatment paradigms in the field of disability by introducing cognitive approaches to mobility that can be applied to prevention and rehabilitation in diverse settings. Through this 'proof of concept' secondary prevention trial the investigators will fill an important gap in knowledge for practicing evidence-based medicine and developing effective interventions for a major health outcome affecting a substantial proportion of the U.S. aging population.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.