Cognitive training that addresses race-based stress for older Black adults with mild cognitive impairment

Race Based Stress and Empowerment Focused Compensatory Cognitive Training for Mild Cognitive Impairment

Not applicable Interventional Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science · NCT06330844

This project will try adding race-based stress and empowerment sessions to a compensatory cognitive training program to see if it helps older Black adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment9 (estimated)
Ages65 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorRosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Academic / other
Locations1 site (Chicago, Illinois)
Trial IDNCT06330844 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a two-phase project adapting a Motivationally Enhanced Compensatory Cognitive Training (ME-CCT) program to include Race-Based Stress and Empowerment components (RBSEF-CCT-MCI). Phase 1 is an open pilot delivering group-based RBSEF-CCT-MCI over eight weeks to evaluate feasibility and acceptability with 8-10 participants per group. Phase 2 is a randomized controlled trial comparing the adapted RBSEF-CCT-MCI against the original ME-CCT, with participants randomized to one of the two eight-week group programs. The work focuses on older adults who self-identify as Black/African American (or multi-racial including Black) with mild cognitive impairment and requires in-person attendance at Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older who self-identify as Black/African American (including multi-racial identities that include Black), have mild cognitive impairment or self-reported cognitive difficulties, can travel to Rosalind Franklin University, and do not have dementia or recent significant brain injury.

Not a fit: Patients with a diagnosis of dementia, intellectual disability, recent concussion or moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury, or those unable to attend in-person sessions are unlikely to benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the adapted program could improve everyday memory, coping with stress, and slow functional decline for Black older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

How similar studies have performed: Compensatory cognitive training approaches like ME-CCT have shown promise in older adults with MCI, but integrating a race-based stress and empowerment component is a novel adaptation with limited prior testing.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* The study will be conducted in-person, so they must be able to travel to Rosalind Franklin University.
* The study will initially be limited to participants who self-identify as Black/African American, or who self-identify with other racial/ethnic groups in addition to self-identifying as Black/African-American; however, may be expanded to include participants that identify as Hispanic/Latine.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants are ineligible to participate in this study if they are not at least 65 years of age and are not experiencing at least mild cognitive impairment or self-reported cognitive difficulties.
* Participants will also be excluded if they have a diagnosis of dementia (i.e., major neurocognitive disorder), intellectual disability, mild head injury (i.e., concussion) within the last six months, and/or a history of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.
* Diagnosis of dementia may be from self-report or other medical records, or for participants to fail screening cognitive assessments (i.e., the RBANS) that would suggest they may be at the level of dementia (i.e., major neurocognitive disorder) as ultimately determined by study PI with objective scores less then 2 standard deviations below the mean on the RBANS.

Where this trial is running

Chicago, Illinois

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Mild Cognitive Impairment
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.