Cognitive Remediation

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a neuroscience-based computerized cognitive remediation ("brain training") program can treat neurocognitive dysfunction (i.e., memory or thinking difficulties) that emerges in some older adults following a viral infection. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does computerized cognitive remediation improve cognitive performance and day-to-day functioning in older adults with postviral neurocognitive dysfunction?
* Will treatment effects be maintained over time, leading to better long term cognitive outcomes?
* Does the treatment lead to reductions in blood-based markers of inflammation as a potential mechanism of cognitive symptom improvement?
* Can the treatment be optimized and refined based on feedback from participants to improve user (patient) experience? Researchers will compare the computerized cognitive remediation program to an active computer-based control condition (alternative computer activities) to see if the computerized cognitive remediation program works to treat postviral neurocognitive dysfunction.

Participation takes approximately 43-48 hours over 7 months, with most activities (40-46 hours) completed within the first 7-8 weeks, including:

* Initial intake visit: Eligibility confirmation (\~2-3 hours)
* Computer activities: About 5 hours per week for \~6 weeks (total \~30 hours) completed on a computer tablet provided by the study and loaned to participants for use during the treatment phase
* Weekly remote check-in meetings: \~30 minutes each during treatment
* Blood draws: Two sessions (before and after treatment), \~20-30 minutes each
* Three research visits: Pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up (\~2-3 hours each, including assessments of cognitive, emotional, and daily functioning)

Conditions

• Aging
• Inflammation
• Cognitive Remediation
• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Postviral Syndrome
• Digital Medicine

Interventions

OTHER

Computerized Cognitive Remediation

The computerized cognitive remediation intervention ("NeuroFlex") consists of a series of gamified tasks administered via computer tablet. The intervention provides both "bottom up" training to improve basic processing of sensory stimuli and "top down" training to improve executive functions. Importantly, NeuroFlex personalizes gameplay with adaptive algorithms that adjust difficulty on a trial-by-trial basis. Participants are prescribed a 30-hour dose distributed across 6 weeks. The treatment is completed remotely by the participant within their own home or other private location that is most convenient for the participant.

OTHER

Alternative Computer Activities

The active control condition is carefully matched to the experimental condition in duration, computer tablet use, audiovisual stimulation, reward presentation, and interaction with study staff. It involves playing visuospatially-oriented computerized games that do not load on executive functions and watching stimulating educational videos.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Aging (NIA)

  collaborator NIH

• Cutter Lindbergh

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Cutter Lindbergh, Ph.D. · UConn Health

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-01-21

Primary Completion

2030-02-28

Completion

2030-02-28

Countries

• United States

Study Locations