Trial Outcomes & Findings for Improving Memory Performance by Applying Cognitive Training (NCT NCT02216591)

NCT ID: NCT02216591

Last Updated: 2017-06-28

Results Overview

Standardized neuropsychological tests of working memory used in this study were the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task-50 and Neuropsychological Assessment Battery Digits Forward/Digits Backward Test. Using the most up-to-date published normative data, raw test scores were converted to T-scores that corrected for demographic factors such as age and education. T scores can range from 0 to 100, with 50 being average and higher scores indicating better function. The overall working memory score was computed by averaging T-scores of each of the individual tests. To examine intervention effects on working memory outcomes, we conducted a 2 (Arm: ACT vs. CON) × 2 (Time: Baseline vs. Post) mixed-model general linear model analyses. Time was the within-subjects factor defined by baseline versus 10 week follow-up, and study arm was the between-subjects factor. Age and years of education were included as covariates. The means reported here are the mean scores at 10 weeks.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

33 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline and 10 weeks

Results posted on

2017-06-28

Participant Flow

Adult persons living with HIV were recruited from the Durham area between January 2015 and May 2016 via flyers and brochures at community-based organizations and infectious diseases clinics.

Interested persons completed a comprehensive in-person eligibility screen prior to group assignment. 33 participants completed the in-person screen, and 12 were not eligible (5 had no memory impairment, 3 had a current substance use disorder, 2 had a history of brain injury, 1 had severe mental illness, and 1 was not interested).

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
The ACT group will complete 12 individual sessions across 6-10 weeks. Sessions will utilize four commercially available memory-training programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service. The four programs used will be: (1) Sequence recall of digits - auditory (SRD-A), (2) Sequenced Recall Reversed Digits - Auditory (SRRD-A), (3) Sequenced Recall of Words - Visual (SRW-V), and (4) Verbal memory - categorizing (VM-C). In each training session, participants will complete each of the four memory training programs twice. Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
Control (CON)
The CON group will also complete 12 total sessions across 6-10 weeks. The same four computer programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service, will be used in the control group sessions. However, the control program will identify the correct responses to participants, such that they do not need to engage their working memory to answer the questions correctly. Control (CON)
Overall Study
STARTED
11
10
Overall Study
COMPLETED
11
9
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
1

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
The ACT group will complete 12 individual sessions across 6-10 weeks. Sessions will utilize four commercially available memory-training programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service. The four programs used will be: (1) Sequence recall of digits - auditory (SRD-A), (2) Sequenced Recall Reversed Digits - Auditory (SRRD-A), (3) Sequenced Recall of Words - Visual (SRW-V), and (4) Verbal memory - categorizing (VM-C). In each training session, participants will complete each of the four memory training programs twice. Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
Control (CON)
The CON group will also complete 12 total sessions across 6-10 weeks. The same four computer programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service, will be used in the control group sessions. However, the control program will identify the correct responses to participants, such that they do not need to engage their working memory to answer the questions correctly. Control (CON)
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
0
1

Baseline Characteristics

Improving Memory Performance by Applying Cognitive Training

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
n=11 Participants
The ACT group will complete 12 individual sessions across 6-10 weeks. Sessions will utilize four commercially available memory-training programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service. The four programs used will be: (1) Sequence recall of digits - auditory (SRD-A), (2) Sequenced Recall Reversed Digits - Auditory (SRRD-A), (3) Sequenced Recall of Words - Visual (SRW-V), and (4) Verbal memory - categorizing (VM-C). In each training session, participants will complete each of the four memory training programs twice. Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
Control (CON)
n=10 Participants
The CON group will also complete 12 total sessions across 6-10 weeks. The same four computer programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service, will be used in the control group sessions. However, the control program will identify the correct responses to participants, such that they do not need to engage their working memory to answer the questions correctly. Control (CON)
Total
n=21 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
10 Participants
n=7 Participants
20 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
51.27 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.37 • n=5 Participants
44.20 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.01 • n=7 Participants
47.90 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.15 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
8 Participants
n=7 Participants
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
11 Participants
n=5 Participants
10 Participants
n=7 Participants
21 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
8 Participants
n=7 Participants
18 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
11 participants
n=5 Participants
10 participants
n=7 Participants
21 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 10 weeks

Standardized neuropsychological tests of working memory used in this study were the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task-50 and Neuropsychological Assessment Battery Digits Forward/Digits Backward Test. Using the most up-to-date published normative data, raw test scores were converted to T-scores that corrected for demographic factors such as age and education. T scores can range from 0 to 100, with 50 being average and higher scores indicating better function. The overall working memory score was computed by averaging T-scores of each of the individual tests. To examine intervention effects on working memory outcomes, we conducted a 2 (Arm: ACT vs. CON) × 2 (Time: Baseline vs. Post) mixed-model general linear model analyses. Time was the within-subjects factor defined by baseline versus 10 week follow-up, and study arm was the between-subjects factor. Age and years of education were included as covariates. The means reported here are the mean scores at 10 weeks.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
n=11 Participants
The ACT group will complete 12 individual sessions across 6-10 weeks. Sessions will utilize four commercially available memory-training programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service. The four programs used will be: (1) Sequence recall of digits - auditory (SRD-A), (2) Sequenced Recall Reversed Digits - Auditory (SRRD-A), (3) Sequenced Recall of Words - Visual (SRW-V), and (4) Verbal memory - categorizing (VM-C). In each training session, participants will complete each of the four memory training programs twice. Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
Control (CON)
n=9 Participants
The CON group will also complete 12 total sessions across 6-10 weeks. The same four computer programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service, will be used in the control group sessions. However, the control program will identify the correct responses to participants, such that they do not need to engage their working memory to answer the questions correctly. Control (CON)
Change in Working Memory
51.33 mean T score on working memory tests
Standard Error 2.69
43.15 mean T score on working memory tests
Standard Error 2.99

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 10 weeks

Measured by Monetary-Choice Questionnaire (MCQ), a standardized task that measures delay discounting. Participants are presented with choices between smaller, immediate rewards and larger, delayed rewards (e.g., "Would you prefer $54 today or $80 in 30 days?). Participants' hyperbolic discount parameter (k value) is determined by fitting data to the following discount function equation: Vimmediate = Vdelayed / (1 + kD), in which V is the reward value in dollars and D is delay in days. K-values on this scale can range from 0.00016 to 4.00 and to normalize scores, these values were ranked from 1 to 13 for analyses. A higher rank indicates greater delay discounting.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
n=11 Participants
The ACT group will complete 12 individual sessions across 6-10 weeks. Sessions will utilize four commercially available memory-training programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service. The four programs used will be: (1) Sequence recall of digits - auditory (SRD-A), (2) Sequenced Recall Reversed Digits - Auditory (SRRD-A), (3) Sequenced Recall of Words - Visual (SRW-V), and (4) Verbal memory - categorizing (VM-C). In each training session, participants will complete each of the four memory training programs twice. Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
Control (CON)
n=9 Participants
The CON group will also complete 12 total sessions across 6-10 weeks. The same four computer programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service, will be used in the control group sessions. However, the control program will identify the correct responses to participants, such that they do not need to engage their working memory to answer the questions correctly. Control (CON)
Change in Delay Discounting
8.62 Mean K value rank for MCQ
Standard Deviation 1.76
8.81 Mean K value rank for MCQ
Standard Deviation 1.52

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 10 weeks

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
n=11 Participants
The ACT group will complete 12 individual sessions across 6-10 weeks. Sessions will utilize four commercially available memory-training programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service. The four programs used will be: (1) Sequence recall of digits - auditory (SRD-A), (2) Sequenced Recall Reversed Digits - Auditory (SRRD-A), (3) Sequenced Recall of Words - Visual (SRW-V), and (4) Verbal memory - categorizing (VM-C). In each training session, participants will complete each of the four memory training programs twice. Active Cognitive Training (ACT)
Control (CON)
n=9 Participants
The CON group will also complete 12 total sessions across 6-10 weeks. The same four computer programs from PSSCogRehab 2012, published by Psychological Software Service, will be used in the control group sessions. However, the control program will identify the correct responses to participants, such that they do not need to engage their working memory to answer the questions correctly. Control (CON)
Change in Mean Percent Adherence Across All Antiretroviral Medications
94.09 Percent of doses
Standard Deviation 13.57
95.11 Percent of doses
Standard Deviation 10.20

Adverse Events

Active Cognitive Training (ACT)

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Control (CON)

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Sheri Towe

Duke University School of Medicine

Phone: 919-668-4030

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place