Cognitive Training for the Remediation of Functional Brain Health in HIV
NCT ID: NCT02571504
Last Updated: 2017-09-21
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
COMPLETED
NA
81 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2015-04-30
2017-05-31
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
A subset of 80 HIV+ individuals will undergo eight weeks of PACR to determine its feasibility and appropriateness for people with mild cognitive difficulties related to HIV infection. The results of this study are expected to be pivotal in generating data to create an optimal training program aimed at stabilizing or improving brain function in HIV infected individuals experiencing cognitive decline.
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
PACR runs in a web browser on any Internet connected computer and is implemented in an engaging game-like format. The participant selects one of the cognitive exercises scheduled for the day, and performs that exercise for fifteen minutes. The exercise itself contains the core science stimuli and task built into a game-like experience. Participants perform tens to hundreds of trials over the course of the fifteen-minute session, with each trial providing auditory and visual feedback and rewards to indicate if the trial was performed correctly or incorrectly. After each trial, the difficulty of the next trial is updated to ensure that within a session, the participant gets \~85% of trials correct. Thus, training is individually tailored to maximize its effectiveness. Summary screens including game metrics (points, levels) and exercise metrics (usage, progress) are shown to the participant at the end of each session. The scheduling mechanism ensures that a patient progresses through the exercises in a defined order, generally moving from more simple (early sensory processing) exercises to more complex (multimodal, cognitive control) exercises over the course of the 8 weeks experience. At any point in time, the participant only has access to a subset (typically six) of these exercises, four of which are performed per day.
Each exercise has specific criteria for completion, and after those criteria are met the exercise is removed from the active set and the next exercise added. This mechanism ensures both ongoing novelty and engagement for the participant, and that the participant progresses smoothly through the complete set of exercises over the program use period.
Free access will be provided to the PACR program, and a tailored cognitive training program will be developed in both French and English, specifically targeting domains and mechanisms that are most affected in HIV. This will include selection of the most suitable training modules (12 are planned), and optimization of the Web-based presentation and feedback to ensure acceptability to this target group.
The treatment goal will be use of the assigned program in 30 minutes sessions, five sessions per week, for 8 weeks after randomization; program use will be any mix of at home (or community Internet resource) or in-clinic sessions.
The outcome will be responder status (defined as improvement of \>0.5 logits) on the B-CAM. With the assumption that the outcome is drawn from a binomial distribution with an expected probability of response of 10% (n=3) with no intervention, 30 subjects in the immediate training group will allow detection of a positive response at P\<0.05 if 7 or more persons respond. The observed responses in both groups will provide more accurate estimates to plan for a scale up of this work to a full trial. An exploratory analysis will evaluate response in only those who completed at least 60% of the training sessions, recognizing that power here will be reduced, but the information nonetheless important.
Participants from both groups will also be compared to all those eligible for randomization to this intervention in the platform as a whole. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) will be applied as a secondary, more general approach here that permits other time points to be modeled, and consideration of other outcomes. This accommodates either binary (responder status) or continuous (scores on cognitive tests) outcomes. This analysis uses a regression model, but clustering of outcomes within time is controlled. For binary outcomes, the effect of group (immediate or control) is expressed as an odds ratio; for continuous outcomes the parameter is an effect size equivalent to an adjusted paired-t-test. An interaction term tests whether the effect differed by group (i.e. was larger in the immediate training group as hypothesized).
Additional analyses will be used to explain changes in B-CAM score as a function of changes expected from the intervention. As the intervention cohort is small, we will use concordance parameters, rather than a regression model, to quantify the degree to which changes in hypothesized mechanisms by which the interventions operate are concordant (at the individual level) with changes in the outcomes (cognitive ability).
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
DIAGNOSTIC
SINGLE
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
Immediate cognitive training group
Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Remediation (PACR) is an 8 week training to improve executive functions (e.g., working memory, flexibility, cognitive control) as well as attention. Participants in the immediate cognitive training group will receive the PACR intervention shortly after enrollment.
Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Remediation (PACR)
Web-based cognitive training program focused on improving attention and executive function (designed by Posit Science)
Waitlist control group
Participants in the waitlist control group will receive a brochure with 8 simple tips for better brain health around the time of enrollment. They will begin the Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Remediation (PACR) intervention within 8 weeks of the initial enrollment.
Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Remediation (PACR)
Web-based cognitive training program focused on improving attention and executive function (designed by Posit Science)
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
Plasticity-based Adaptive Cognitive Remediation (PACR)
Web-based cognitive training program focused on improving attention and executive function (designed by Posit Science)
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
* HIV infection for at least 1 year;
* able to communicate in English or French;
* capable of providing informed consent;
* easy access to the internet;
* EEG and MRI compatible
Exclusion Criteria
* life expectancy \< 3 y;
* other neurological disorder including active opportunistic CNS infection;
* psychotic disorder;
* current substance dependence or abuse; and
* Hepatitis C requiring interferon therapy during the study period
35 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
Posit Science Corporation
INDUSTRY
McGill University
OTHER
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
Lesley K. Fellows
Neurologist
Principal Investigators
Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.
Lesley K Fellows, MD, DPhil
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
McGill University
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (McGill University)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
References
Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.
Clifford DB, Ances BM. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder. Lancet Infect Dis. 2013 Nov;13(11):976-86. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70269-X.
Power C, Boisse L, Rourke S, Gill MJ. NeuroAIDS: an evolving epidemic. Can J Neurol Sci. 2009 May;36(3):285-95. doi: 10.1017/s0317167100007009.
Au A, Cheng C, Chan I, Leung P, Li P, Heaton RK. Subjective memory complaints, mood, and memory deficits among HIV/AIDS patients in Hong Kong. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2008 Apr;30(3):338-48. doi: 10.1080/13803390701416189. Epub 2007 Jul 25.
Holt JL, Kraft-Terry SD, Chang L. Neuroimaging studies of the aging HIV-1-infected brain. J Neurovirol. 2012 Aug;18(4):291-302. doi: 10.1007/s13365-012-0114-1. Epub 2012 Jun 1.
Vinogradov S, Fisher M, de Villers-Sidani E. Cognitive training for impaired neural systems in neuropsychiatric illness. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2012 Jan;37(1):43-76. doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.251. Epub 2011 Nov 2.
Mahncke HW, Bronstone A, Merzenich MM. Brain plasticity and functional losses in the aged: scientific bases for a novel intervention. Prog Brain Res. 2006;157:81-109. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(06)57006-2.
Fisher M, Holland C, Merzenich MM, Vinogradov S. Using neuroplasticity-based auditory training to improve verbal memory in schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry. 2009 Jul;166(7):805-11. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.08050757. Epub 2009 May 15.
Mahncke HW, Connor BB, Appelman J, Ahsanuddin ON, Hardy JL, Wood RA, Joyce NM, Boniske T, Atkins SM, Merzenich MM. Memory enhancement in healthy older adults using a brain plasticity-based training program: a randomized, controlled study. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Aug 15;103(33):12523-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0605194103. Epub 2006 Aug 3.
Zelinski EM, Spina LM, Yaffe K, Ruff R, Kennison RF, Mahncke HW, Smith GE. Improvement in memory with plasticity-based adaptive cognitive training: results of the 3-month follow-up. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Feb;59(2):258-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03277.x.
Ances BM, Ortega M, Vaida F, Heaps J, Paul R. Independent effects of HIV, aging, and HAART on brain volumetric measures. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2012 Apr 15;59(5):469-77. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318249db17.
Tate DF, Conley J, Paul RH, Coop K, Zhang S, Zhou W, Laidlaw DH, Taylor LE, Flanigan T, Navia B, Cohen R, Tashima K. Quantitative diffusion tensor imaging tractography metrics are associated with cognitive performance among HIV-infected patients. Brain Imaging Behav. 2010 Mar;4(1):68-79. doi: 10.1007/s11682-009-9086-z. Epub 2010 Jan 19.
Du H, Wu Y, Ochs R, Edelman RR, Epstein LG, McArthur J, Ragin AB. A comparative evaluation of quantitative neuroimaging measurements of brain status in HIV infection. Psychiatry Res. 2012 Jul 30;203(1):95-9. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2011.08.014. Epub 2012 Aug 12.
Eskildsen SF, Coupe P, Garcia-Lorenzo D, Fonov V, Pruessner JC, Collins DL; Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Prediction of Alzheimer's disease in subjects with mild cognitive impairment from the ADNI cohort using patterns of cortical thinning. Neuroimage. 2013 Jan 15;65:511-21. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.09.058. Epub 2012 Oct 2.
Coupe P, Manjon JV, Fonov V, Pruessner J, Robles M, Collins DL. Patch-based segmentation using expert priors: application to hippocampus and ventricle segmentation. Neuroimage. 2011 Jan 15;54(2):940-54. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.09.018. Epub 2010 Sep 17.
Coupe P, Eskildsen SF, Manjon JV, Fonov VS, Collins DL; Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Simultaneous segmentation and grading of anatomical structures for patient's classification: application to Alzheimer's disease. Neuroimage. 2012 Feb 15;59(4):3736-47. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.10.080. Epub 2011 Nov 9.
Jahanshad N, Valcour VG, Nir TM, Kohannim O, Busovaca E, Nicolas K, Thompson PM. Disrupted brain networks in the aging HIV+ population. Brain Connect. 2012;2(6):335-44. doi: 10.1089/brain.2012.0105-Rev.
Subramaniam K, Luks TL, Fisher M, Simpson GV, Nagarajan S, Vinogradov S. Computerized cognitive training restores neural activity within the reality monitoring network in schizophrenia. Neuron. 2012 Feb 23;73(4):842-53. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.12.024.
Sampaio-Baptista C, Scholz J, Jenkinson M, Thomas AG, Filippini N, Smit G, Douaud G, Johansen-Berg H. Gray matter volume is associated with rate of subsequent skill learning after a long term training intervention. Neuroimage. 2014 Aug 1;96:158-66. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.03.056. Epub 2014 Mar 26.
Concha L, Beaulieu C, Collins DL, Gross DW. White-matter diffusion abnormalities in temporal-lobe epilepsy with and without mesial temporal sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2009 Mar;80(3):312-9. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2007.139287. Epub 2008 Oct 31.
Tomaiuolo F, Scapin M, Di Paola M, Le Nezet P, Fadda L, Musicco M, Caltagirone C, Collins DL. Gross anatomy of the corpus callosum in Alzheimer's disease: regions of degeneration and their neuropsychological correlates. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2007;23(2):96-103. doi: 10.1159/000097371. Epub 2006 Nov 24.
He Y, Dagher A, Chen Z, Charil A, Zijdenbos A, Worsley K, Evans A. Impaired small-world efficiency in structural cortical networks in multiple sclerosis associated with white matter lesion load. Brain. 2009 Dec;132(Pt 12):3366-79. doi: 10.1093/brain/awp089.
Gauthier CJ, Desjardins-Crepeau L, Madjar C, Bherer L, Hoge RD. Absolute quantification of resting oxygen metabolism and metabolic reactivity during functional activation using QUO2 MRI. Neuroimage. 2012 Nov 15;63(3):1353-63. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.07.065. Epub 2012 Aug 16.
Lee EC, Whitehead AL, Jacques RM, Julious SA. The statistical interpretation of pilot trials: should significance thresholds be reconsidered? BMC Med Res Methodol. 2014 Mar 20;14:41. doi: 10.1186/1471-2288-14-41.
Sutton S, Braren M, Zubin J, John ER. Evoked-potential correlates of stimulus uncertainty. Science. 1965 Nov 26;150(3700):1187-8. doi: 10.1126/science.150.3700.1187.
Lesevre N. [Concepts underlying the analysis of late evoked potentials applied to the study of information processing and its disturbances in psychopathology]. Neurophysiol Clin. 1988 Feb;18(1):1-20. doi: 10.1016/s0987-7053(88)80103-5. French.
O'Brien JL, Edwards JD, Maxfield ND, Peronto CL, Williams VA, Lister JJ. Cognitive training and selective attention in the aging brain: an electrophysiological study. Clin Neurophysiol. 2013 Nov;124(11):2198-208. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2013.05.012. Epub 2013 Jun 14.
Tong Y, Melara RD, Rao A. P2 enhancement from auditory discrimination training is associated with improved reaction times. Brain Res. 2009 Nov 10;1297:80-8. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.07.089. Epub 2009 Aug 6.
Spironelli C, Bergamaschi S, Mondini S, Villani D, Angrilli A. Functional plasticity in Alzheimer's disease: effect of cognitive training on language-related ERP components. Neuropsychologia. 2013 Jul;51(8):1638-48. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.05.007. Epub 2013 May 14.
Okada YC, Kaufman L, Williamson SJ. The hippocampal formation as a source of the slow endogenous potentials. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1983 Apr;55(4):417-26. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(83)90130-x.
Goodin DS, Squires KC, Starr A. Long latency event-related components of the auditory evoked potential in dementia. Brain. 1978 Dec;101(4):635-48. doi: 10.1093/brain/101.4.635.
Polich J, Kok A. Cognitive and biological determinants of P300: an integrative review. Biol Psychol. 1995 Oct;41(2):103-46. doi: 10.1016/0301-0511(95)05130-9.
Gevins A, Smith ME. Neurophysiological measures of working memory and individual differences in cognitive ability and cognitive style. Cereb Cortex. 2000 Sep;10(9):829-39. doi: 10.1093/cercor/10.9.829.
Goodin DS, Aminoff MJ, Chernoff DN, Hollander H. Long latency event-related potentials in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Ann Neurol. 1990 Apr;27(4):414-9. doi: 10.1002/ana.410270409.
Gil R, Breux JP, Neau JP, Becq-Giraudon B. [Cognitive evoked potentials and HIV infection]. Neurophysiol Clin. 1992 Nov;22(5):385-91. doi: 10.1016/s0987-7053(05)80096-6. French.
Schroeder MM, Handelsman L, Torres L, Dorfman D, Rinaldi P, Jacobson J, Wiener J, Ritter W. Early and late cognitive event-related potentials mark stages of HIV-1 infection in the drug-user risk group. Biol Psychiatry. 1994 Jan 1;35(1):54-69. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(94)91168-1.
Bauer LO. Interactive effects of HIV/AIDS, body mass, and substance abuse on the frontal brain: a P300 study. Psychiatry Res. 2011 Jan 30;185(1-2):232-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2009.08.020. Epub 2010 May 23.
Tartar JL, Sheehan CM, Nash AJ, Starratt C, Puga A, Widmayer S. ERPs differ from neurometric tests in assessing HIV-associated cognitive deficit. Neuroreport. 2004 Jul 19;15(10):1675-8. doi: 10.1097/01.wnr.0000134992.74181.4b.
Chao LL, Lindgren JA, Flenniken DL, Weiner MW. ERP evidence of impaired central nervous system function in virally suppressed HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy. Clin Neurophysiol. 2004 Jul;115(7):1583-91. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2004.02.015.
Baldeweg T, Gruzelier JH, Catalan J, Pugh K, Lovett E, Riccio M, Stygall J, Irving G, Catt S, Hawkins D. Auditory and visual event-related potentials in a controlled investigation of HIV infection. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1993 Sep-Oct;88(5):356-68. doi: 10.1016/0168-5597(93)90012-e.
Toth B, File B, Boha R, Kardos Z, Hidasi Z, Gaal ZA, Csibri E, Salacz P, Stam CJ, Molnar M. EEG network connectivity changes in mild cognitive impairment - Preliminary results. Int J Psychophysiol. 2014 Apr;92(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2014.02.001. Epub 2014 Feb 6.
van der Molen MJ, Stam CJ, van der Molen MW. Resting-state EEG oscillatory dynamics in fragile X syndrome: abnormal functional connectivity and brain network organization. PLoS One. 2014 Feb 11;9(2):e88451. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088451. eCollection 2014.
Babiloni C, Vecchio F, Lizio R, Ferri R, Rodriguez G, Marzano N, Frisoni GB, Rossini PM. Resting state cortical rhythms in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: electroencephalographic evidence. J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;26 Suppl 3:201-14. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2011-0051.
Mayo NE, Brouillette MJ, Fellows LK; Positive Brain Health Now Investigators. Understanding and optimizing brain health in HIV now: protocol for a longitudinal cohort study with multiple randomized controlled trials. BMC Neurol. 2016 Jan 14;16:8. doi: 10.1186/s12883-016-0527-1.
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
CTNPT 026
Identifier Type: OTHER
Identifier Source: secondary_id
14-367 BMD
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id