Trial Outcomes & Findings for Online Grammatical Reasoning Training for Older Adults (NCT NCT03661190)
NCT ID: NCT03661190
Last Updated: 2026-05-04
Results Overview
Measured by the validated task-switching test of Trailmaking B. This is a well established computerised test of executive function. On a computer screen participants are presented with 24 circles with either numbers (0-13) or letters (A-L). They must select the circles in the correct numerical and alphabetic order, alternating numbers and letters each time (e.g. 1, A, 2, B, 3, C etc). The test is completed when all the circles have been correctly selected. The test outputs a total score. A higher score indicates a better performance. A negative mean score indicates a decline in performance. The range of scoring for this test is 0 - 300,000. Data reported here are for mean change per group form baseline to six weeks
COMPLETED
NA
6544 participants
Baseline to Six weeks
2026-05-04
Participant Flow
Participant milestones
| Measure |
Grammatical Reasoning
This group will complete a short-term Intensive Grammatical Reasoning cognitive task delivered online by Wesnes Cognition Ltd (START). Participants will be encouraged to complete the START training once a day for six-weeks.
Grammatical Reasoning: START measures the ability to determine the relationships among different shape combinations which are assigned to grammatical statements about them which can be either correct or incorrect. It is a measure of attention, working memory and executive control.
|
Control - Card Pairs
The control group will complete a basic picture-matching task that will provide the same level of engagement, but without the learning effects.
Card Pairs: A basic picture-matching task.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
STARTED
|
3279
|
3265
|
|
Overall Study
COMPLETED
|
1739
|
1736
|
|
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
|
1540
|
1529
|
Reasons for withdrawal
Withdrawal data not reported
Baseline Characteristics
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.
Baseline characteristics by cohort
| Measure |
Grammatical Reasoning
n=3279 Participants
This group will complete a short-term Intensive Grammatical Reasoning cognitive task delivered online by Wesnes Cognition Ltd (START). Participants will be encouraged to complete the START training once a day for six-weeks.
Grammatical Reasoning: START measures the ability to determine the relationships among different shape combinations which are assigned to grammatical statements about them which can be either correct or incorrect. It is a measure of attention, working memory and executive control.
|
Control - Card Pairs
n=3265 Participants
The control group will complete a basic picture-matching task that will provide the same level of engagement, but without the learning effects.
Card Pairs: A basic picture-matching task.
|
Total
n=6544 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Age, Continuous
|
62.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.23 • n=3279 Participants
|
62.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.08 • n=3265 Participants
|
62.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.15 • n=6544 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Female
|
2617 Participants
n=3279 Participants
|
2601 Participants
n=3265 Participants
|
5218 Participants
n=6544 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Male
|
662 Participants
n=3279 Participants
|
664 Participants
n=3265 Participants
|
1326 Participants
n=6544 Participants
|
|
Educational Attainment
|
3.28 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.40 • n=3279 Participants
|
3.23 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.36 • n=3265 Participants
|
3.25 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.38 • n=6544 Participants
|
|
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
|
—
|
—
|
0 Participants
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline to Six weeksMeasured by the validated task-switching test of Trailmaking B. This is a well established computerised test of executive function. On a computer screen participants are presented with 24 circles with either numbers (0-13) or letters (A-L). They must select the circles in the correct numerical and alphabetic order, alternating numbers and letters each time (e.g. 1, A, 2, B, 3, C etc). The test is completed when all the circles have been correctly selected. The test outputs a total score. A higher score indicates a better performance. A negative mean score indicates a decline in performance. The range of scoring for this test is 0 - 300,000. Data reported here are for mean change per group form baseline to six weeks
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Grammatical Reasoning
n=1739 Participants
This group will complete a short-term Intensive Grammatical Reasoning cognitive task delivered online by Wesnes Cognition Ltd (START). Participants will be encouraged to complete the START training once a day for six-weeks.
Grammatical Reasoning: START measures the ability to determine the relationships among different shape combinations which are assigned to grammatical statements about them which can be either correct or incorrect. It is a measure of attention, working memory and executive control.
|
Control - Card Pairs
n=1736 Participants
The control group will complete a basic picture-matching task that will provide the same level of engagement, but without the learning effects.
Card Pairs: A basic picture-matching task.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Executive Function From Baseline
|
5435.9 score on a scale
95% Confidence Interval 331.80 • Interval 4905.71 to 5966.09
|
9671.19 score on a scale
95% Confidence Interval 330.46 • Interval 9138.87 to 10203.51
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline to six weeksDigit Span test for numerical working memory. Partifcipants complete a computerised task. They must remember increasingly long strings of digits and repeat them back. Scores are based on correct responses. Higher score means better performance. Score range is 0 - 20
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Grammatical Reasoning
n=1737 Participants
This group will complete a short-term Intensive Grammatical Reasoning cognitive task delivered online by Wesnes Cognition Ltd (START). Participants will be encouraged to complete the START training once a day for six-weeks.
Grammatical Reasoning: START measures the ability to determine the relationships among different shape combinations which are assigned to grammatical statements about them which can be either correct or incorrect. It is a measure of attention, working memory and executive control.
|
Control - Card Pairs
n=1729 Participants
The control group will complete a basic picture-matching task that will provide the same level of engagement, but without the learning effects.
Card Pairs: A basic picture-matching task.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Numerical Working Memory From Six Weeks
|
0.55 score on a scale
Interval 0.41 to 0.69
|
0.29 score on a scale
Interval 0.14 to 0.42
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline to six weeksMeasured through a computerised version of the Paired Associate Learning task in which participants must remember the location of a symbol behind a series of boxes on a screen, and accurately identify the correct location when prompted. Scores are based on accuracy. Higher score indicates better performance. Data reported here shows mean change from baseline. Range of scores is 0 - 16
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Grammatical Reasoning
n=1737 Participants
This group will complete a short-term Intensive Grammatical Reasoning cognitive task delivered online by Wesnes Cognition Ltd (START). Participants will be encouraged to complete the START training once a day for six-weeks.
Grammatical Reasoning: START measures the ability to determine the relationships among different shape combinations which are assigned to grammatical statements about them which can be either correct or incorrect. It is a measure of attention, working memory and executive control.
|
Control - Card Pairs
n=1729 Participants
The control group will complete a basic picture-matching task that will provide the same level of engagement, but without the learning effects.
Card Pairs: A basic picture-matching task.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Working Memory From Baseline
|
1.90 score on a scale
Interval 1.68 to 2.1
|
1.09 score on a scale
Interval 0.87 to 1.31
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline to six weeksMeasured through a Simple Reaction time test as part of the Wesnes Cognition Ltd CogTrackTM system. Participants are shown a target symbol on the screen and must react by pressing the keyboard / touching the screen (depending on the device being used) when the target appears. Output is measured in milliseconds as a reaction time variable. Lower scores are better; higher scores are worse. Range of scores is 100 - 30,000
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Grammatical Reasoning
n=1737 Participants
This group will complete a short-term Intensive Grammatical Reasoning cognitive task delivered online by Wesnes Cognition Ltd (START). Participants will be encouraged to complete the START training once a day for six-weeks.
Grammatical Reasoning: START measures the ability to determine the relationships among different shape combinations which are assigned to grammatical statements about them which can be either correct or incorrect. It is a measure of attention, working memory and executive control.
|
Control - Card Pairs
n=1728 Participants
The control group will complete a basic picture-matching task that will provide the same level of engagement, but without the learning effects.
Card Pairs: A basic picture-matching task.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Reaction Time From Baseline
|
10.04 time (milliseconds)
Interval 6.13 to 13.95
|
3.66 time (milliseconds)
Interval -0.26 to 7.58
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline to six weeksMeasured with the Delayed Picture Recognition task in which participants recall a series of images shown earlier in the cognitive test battery. The test outputs percentage of correct answers as the measure. A higher score shows a better outcome. Range output is 0 - 100
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Grammatical Reasoning
n=1737 Participants
This group will complete a short-term Intensive Grammatical Reasoning cognitive task delivered online by Wesnes Cognition Ltd (START). Participants will be encouraged to complete the START training once a day for six-weeks.
Grammatical Reasoning: START measures the ability to determine the relationships among different shape combinations which are assigned to grammatical statements about them which can be either correct or incorrect. It is a measure of attention, working memory and executive control.
|
Control - Card Pairs
n=1729 Participants
The control group will complete a basic picture-matching task that will provide the same level of engagement, but without the learning effects.
Card Pairs: A basic picture-matching task.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Episodic Memory From Baseline
|
57.9 score on a scale
Interval 54.77 to 61.03
|
45.4 score on a scale
Interval 42.27 to 48.53
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline to six weeksThis is a composite measure of overall cognition that is created by normalising the outputs from all other cognitive tests to give a total score out of 100. The data shown here is the change in total score from baseline to six weeks. Range is 0 - 100. A higher score indicates a better outcome
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Grammatical Reasoning
n=1737 Participants
This group will complete a short-term Intensive Grammatical Reasoning cognitive task delivered online by Wesnes Cognition Ltd (START). Participants will be encouraged to complete the START training once a day for six-weeks.
Grammatical Reasoning: START measures the ability to determine the relationships among different shape combinations which are assigned to grammatical statements about them which can be either correct or incorrect. It is a measure of attention, working memory and executive control.
|
Control - Card Pairs
n=1729 Participants
The control group will complete a basic picture-matching task that will provide the same level of engagement, but without the learning effects.
Card Pairs: A basic picture-matching task.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Overall Composite Measure of Global Cognition
|
0.22 score on a scale
Interval 0.18 to 0.28
|
0.08 score on a scale
Interval 0.04 to 0.12
|
Adverse Events
Control - Card Pairs
Grammatical Reasoning
Serious adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Other adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Additional Information
Results disclosure agreements
- Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
- Publication restrictions are in place