Training program to enhance cognitive resilience in older adults
BETTER Aging Trial: Brain Enhancement Training Towards Elders Resilience to Aging, Phase IIB
This study tests a computer training program to see if it can help older adults improve their thinking skills and brain health over time.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Ages | 70 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Posit Science Corporation Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 2 sites (Iowa City, Iowa and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05599490 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the long-term benefits of a computerized training program designed to enhance neuroplasticity in older adults experiencing age-related cognitive decline. Participants who previously completed a Phase II study will be joined by new, age-matched individuals for a total of approximately 60 participants. The study will involve cognitive and functional assessments, MRI/fMRI scans, and blood draws before and after a 10-week training period. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of the training and the potential benefits of booster sessions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are fluent English-speaking individuals aged 70 and older without evidence of dementia.
Not a fit: Patients with severe visual or hearing deficits, or those requiring caregiver assistance, may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve cognitive resilience and quality of life for older adults facing cognitive decline.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using computerized cognitive training to enhance neuroplasticity, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participant must be 70 years of age or older * Participant must be a fluent English speaker * Participant must have adequate sensorimotor capacity to perform the program, including visual capacity adequate to read from a computer screen at a normal viewing distance, auditory capacity adequate to understand normal speech, and motor capacity adequate to control a computer mouse * Participant must not have evidence of dementia as indicated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Exclusion Criteria: * Participant with any medical illnesses, injuries or conditions predisposing to imminent functional and/or cognitive decline * Participant requiring caregiver assistance in dressing/personal hygiene * Participant with severe visual deficits (including visual neglect, partial field cuts, anopias) and/or severe hearing deficit that would prevent use of the computerized treatment program * Participant with recent participation of computer-delivered cognitive training within 2 years of consent * Participant with claustrophobia or any other contraindication to MRI scanning * Participant with inability to complete a 1-hour MRI * Pregnant women * Participant with any implanted devices above the waist (e.g., cardiac pacemaker or auto-defibrillators, neural pacemaker, aneurysm clips, cochlear implant, metallic bodies in the eye or central nervous system, any form of wires or metal devices that may concentrate radio frequency fields) * Participants with active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent or suicide-related behaviors within 2 months of consent as measured by the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
Where this trial is running
Iowa City, Iowa and 1 other locations
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, Iowa, United States (Recruiting)
- University of Texas at Dallas — Dallas, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Hyun Kyu Lee, PhD — Posit Science Corporation
- Study coordinator: Sarah-Jane Grant, MA
- Email: sarah-jane.grant@positscience.com
- Phone: 415-539-3130
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.