Perceptual-vision Training and Intellectual Disabilities

NCT ID: NCT06628999

Last Updated: 2025-04-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 84 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-05-05
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-31

Brief Summary

Physical activity for healthy ageing is an important feature and the possibility to detect practical solutions to solve the need for feasible health promotion interventions to reduce health disparities and wellbeing in individuals with intellectual disability (ID) is an open question. In this perspective, vision has a remarkable role in spatial cognition and organization, especially in individuals with ID. Therefore, the aim is to investigate the effectiveness of a perceptual-vision training program on cognitive performance (inhibitory control) and physical fitness (balance, agility and muscular strength) in adults with ID throughout 16 weeks. Participants with mild ID will be randomly divided into a perceptual-vision training group, a perceptual-vision training-detraining group and a control group. Cognitive performance and physical fitness will be assessed at baseline, mid and at the end of 16 weeks. In conclusion, a visual training program may present the potentiality to impact various health domains, from cognition to physical performance in individuals with intellectual disabilities, promoting their healthy aging.

Detailed Description

Despite the importance of physical activity for healthy ageing and the need for feasible health promotion interventions to reduce health disparities and improve aging wellbeing in individuals with intellectual disability (ID), there is a lack of empirically supported strategies for health promotion and disease prevention in adults with ID. Notably, vision and eye tracking play a key role in spatial cognition and orientation triggering several brain areas and people with ID may present anomalous visual movements, spatial organization or cognitive performance. The aim of the present project is to investigate a potential strategy for promoting healthy ageing targeting both physical and cognitive domains in individuals with ID. Specifically, this project will study the effect of a perceptual-vision training program on cognitive performance (inhibitory control) and physical fitness (balance, agility and muscular strength) in adults with ID. The second aim is to test the association between cognitive and physical performance variables. Participants with mild ID will be randomly allocated to a perceptual-vision training group (n = 28), a perceptual-vision training-detraining group (n = 28) and a control group (n = 28).

During the overall 16 weeks, the perceptual-vision training group will follow an intervention protocol based on vision and oculomotor exercises combined with balance motor actions for the entire period, the perceptual-vision training-detraining group will follow the same oculomotor training program for 8 weeks and a period of detraining for the last consecutive 8 weeks. Lastly, the control group will continue to perform habitual active lifestyle for 16 weeks. Cognitive performance and physical fitness will be assessed at baseline, mid (end of 8 week), and post intervention period (end of 16 week). Overall, a perceptual-vision training program may have the potential to positively impact various aspects of life quality in individuals with ID promoting autonomy, health, social integration, and overall wellbeing. This may be a promising strategy to ameliorate healthy ageing of people with ID across various domains.

Conditions

Intellectual Disability; Intellectual Impairment; Activity, Motor; Sports Physical Therapy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Visual Training Group

Visual Training Group: physical training exercises aiming to combine visual skills with basic motor actions for 16 consecutive weeks

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Visual Training

Intervention Type: OTHER

16-week training protocol focused on visual training designed for ameliorating cognitive performance and physical fitness

Control Group

Control Group: active lifestyle based on healthy habits for 16 consecutive weeks

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Control Group

Intervention Type: OTHER

16-week of active lifestyle based on healthy habits

Visual Training-detraining Group

Visual Training-detraining Group: physical exercises physical training exercises aiming to combine visual skills with basic motor actions for 8 consecutive weeks. The last remaining 8 weeks (up to 16 week) the group will conduct a period of detraining in which no physical exercises will be administered

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Visual Training-detraining

Intervention Type: OTHER

8-week training protocol focused on visual training designed for ameliorating cognitive performance and physical fitness, followed by 8 week with no specific training protocol

Interventions

Visual Training

16-week training protocol focused on visual training designed for ameliorating cognitive performance and physical fitness

Intervention Type: OTHER

Control Group

16-week of active lifestyle based on healthy habits

Intervention Type: OTHER

Visual Training-detraining

8-week training protocol focused on visual training designed for ameliorating cognitive performance and physical fitness, followed by 8 week with no specific training protocol

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• age between 40 and 70 years
• mild ID (Intellectual Quotient = 51-69).

Exclusion Criteria

• inability to understand basic verbal communication
• strict dependence on personnel or assistive support devices
• presence of concomitant sensorial or physical impairments
• presence of behavioural problems or any other clinical condition that may compromise the regular physical activity practice

• Minimum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Università degli Studi dell'Insubria

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Luca Cavaggioni

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Luca Cavaggioni, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Universitià degli Studi dell'Insubria

Central Contacts

Luca Cavaggioni, PhD

Role: CONTACT

luca.cavaggioni@uninsubria.it

+393485408103

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Other Identifiers

0119168

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id