Cognitive Reserve and Second Language Acquisition

NCT ID: NCT03638882

Last Updated: 2019-09-19

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

90 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-08-01

Study Completion Date

2020-10-01

Brief Summary

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Bilingualism has been shown to have a strong protective effect against dementia, delaying the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease by up to 4 years. The purpose of the study is to test whether learning a second language using Duolingo software could improve cognitive functions in older adults.

Detailed Description

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This study is a 3-arm, randomized controlled trial. The primary objective of the study is to test the impact of second language acquisition through short-term use of the Duolingo app on cognitive functioning, particularly executive function in older adults compared to a brain training application.

Conditions

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Executive Function

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Duolingo Spanish Course

30 minutes each day, 5 days a week for 16 weeks. Total of 40 hours.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Duolingo

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Will learn Spanish using the commercially available Duolingo application. It is a computerized language training program.

BrainHQ

30 minutes each day, 5 days a week for 16 weeks. Total of 40 hours.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

BrainHQ

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Will use the commercially available Posit Science product Brain HQ. Brain HQ is a computerized adaptive cognitive brain training program.

Passive Control

No intervention.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Passive Control

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

No Intervention.

Interventions

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Duolingo

Will learn Spanish using the commercially available Duolingo application. It is a computerized language training program.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

BrainHQ

Will use the commercially available Posit Science product Brain HQ. Brain HQ is a computerized adaptive cognitive brain training program.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Passive Control

No Intervention.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Participants must have normal vision and hearing.
* Participants must be able to travel to Baycrest by personal or study-arranged automobile, or public transportation.
* Participants must be monolingual native English speakers.
* Participants must be willing to provide informed consent.
* Participants must have daily access to a smartphone/mobile device.
* Have not previously studied Spanish formally, nor any other language in the past 10 years.

Exclusion Criteria

* have a neurological disorder.
* meet DSM-IV-TR criteria for Axis I mood, anxiety, or psychotic or substance abuse disorders.
* Fluent in more than one language.
Minimum Eligible Age

65 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Toronto

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jed A. Meltzer, Ph.D

Neurorehabilitation Scientist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Baycrest Health Sciences

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Canada

Central Contacts

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Jed Meltzer, Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

416-785-2500 ext. 2117

Facility Contacts

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Jed Meltzer, Ph.D.

Role: primary

416-785-2500 ext. 2117

Other Identifiers

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I2P2-2-00140

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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