Computerized Cognitive Training in Healthy Older Adults and Mild Cognitive Impairment

ConditionsMild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)Healthy Aging

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age65+

SponsorUniversidad Antonio de Nebrija

About this trial

The overall objective of this study is to assess the effect of an adaptive computerized cognitive training program for executive functions (CogniFit platform) on improving these functions in older adults, both healthy and with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), as well as to examine the potential transfer effects of this training on memory. Additionally, determine the impact of the intervention on the emotional symptoms, behavioral disorders, or quality of life of the participants.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

adults 65 years of age and older;

spanish speakers;

residents in Spain (urban and rural communities);

elderly population that does not have dementia or other major diagnosed uncontrolled neurological disorders;

Disqualifiers

Older adults who obtain scores indicative of severe impairment (to be determined for low MEC scores that are suggestive of incipient dementia) or whose medical condition prevents them from participating safely;

diagnosis of dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease or other);

uncontrolled active major psychiatric illness (major depression, schizophrenia, etc.);

significant uncontrolled neurological conditions or history (e.g., Parkinson's disease, stroke, severe traumatic brain injury);

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

Computerized Cognitive Training
Behavioral
Participants in the experimental groups (Group 2: trained healthy individuals; Group 4: trained individuals with mild cognitive impairment) will use an online cognitive training platform (CogniFit®) consisting of multiple interactive games designed to train reasoning and executive functions. Training activities will target key executive processes related to reasoning, including processing speed, planning, working memory updating, focused attention, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition. Each session will consist of several short games or exercises presented on a tablet screen, which participants will complete by following simple instructions and receiving immediate feedback on their performance. Exercise difficulty will automatically adapt to participants' performance, as the activities are designed to impose a relatively high cognitive demand. Participants will complete sessions lasting approximately 15-30 minutes, at least twice per week, over a period of 8-12 weeks.
Active Control Computerized Activities
Behavioral
Participants in the active control groups (Group 1: healthy control; Group 3: MCI control) will also use the CogniFit platform. However, in this condition, participants will engage in simple recreational computerized activities designed to control for screen exposure, participant engagement, and expectancy effects (e.g., digital coloring tasks, visual puzzles, and contour-tracing activities), without specifically targeting higher-order cognitive functions. Participants will complete sessions lasting approximately 15-30 minutes, at least twice per week, over a period of 8-12 weeks.

Treatment groups

156 Participants

are divided into 4 treatment groups

Group A: Group 1. Cognitively healthy older adults assigned to active control activities.Placebo comparator 1 intervention

Group B: Group 2. Cognitively healthy older adults assigned to executive function cognitive training.Experimental treatment 1 intervention

Group C: Group 3. Older adults with MCI assigned to active control activities.Placebo comparator 1 intervention

Group D: Group 4. Older adults with MCI assigned to cognitive training of executive functions.Experimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Lobo's Mini Cognitive Examination (Spanish version of the MMSE)

The study uses the Lobo's Mini Cognitive Examination (Spanish version of the MMSE) to assess cognitive function in the pretest to characterize participants. It will be repeated in the posttest after the computerized cognitive training intervention and follow-up.

Time frame