Age-related cognitive decline is unavoidable. However, recent results of neuroplasticity-based research show that neuroplasticity-based training and physical activity might have the potential to decelerate or even reverse effects of aging and age-related cognitive impairments. Little is known whether these results also apply to pathological processes of aging such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. This multi-center study aims at investigating efficiency and feasibility of a neuroplasticity-based auditory discrimination training and a physical fitness training for patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer's disease (Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE \> 19). Evaluation will include neuropsychological testing, electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements as well as blood and liquor analyses.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
65
10-week neuroplasticity-based training (5 days/week, 1 hour each, PC-based), training at home
10-week training, small groups (2 days/week, 1 hour each) plus homework (3 days/week)
University of Konstanz
Konstanz, Germany
University of Ulm, Memory Clinic
Ulm, Germany
Change in global cognition
Average score of the two component scores "memory" and "attention / executive functions", derived from principal component analysis of 11 cognitive items (Munich verbal memory test (MVGT) encoding, MVGT long delayed free recall, free recall of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, working memory in the Everyday Cognition Battery, Trail Making Test A and B, digit span forward and backward, digit-symbol-coding and semantic and phonematic fluency).
Time frame: pre, post, 3-month follow-up
electrophysiological, MRI, blood and liquor correlates
Time frame: pre, post, 3-month follow-up
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