The proposed research will translate research on delay discounting to the prevention of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in persons with prediabetes. In this study, the investigators will verify target engagement (DD) by examining if EFT improves DD under conditions shown to increase discounting of the future. Prediabetics will be randomized to receive EFT/ERT in a factorial design when experiencing simulated poverty/neutral conditions, respectively. The effects will be measured on DD. The investigators predict that poverty conditions will increase discounting of the future for ERT subjects, but those receiving EFT will show levels of DD similar to levels observed for participants in the wealth condition.
The prevention of Type 2 diabetes in an obese person with prediabetes requires developing a healthier lifestyle. The rational approach for someone with prediabetes would be to eat healthier, be more active, lose weight, and manage their comorbidities. However, preliminary research suggests that individuals with Type 2 diabetes discount the future and engage in behaviors that maximize current pleasure and short-term gain; thus, daily choices needed to improve future health are rare in this population. Delay discounting (DD) describes the choice of smaller immediate versus larger delayed rewards. This behavioral process is related to a wide variety of health choices, ranging from preventive health to behavioral and medical regimen adherence, including regimens used for Type 2 diabetes. The investigators believe that DD provides a target for one type of self-regulation that can improve a wide variety of health behaviors and medical adherence. Research from our laboratories has shown that episodic future thinking (EFT), a form of prospection which reduces the bias towards immediate gratification, activates brain regions involved in planning and prospection such that future rewards have increased value and the extent of delay discounting is reduced. Cueing individuals to think about future events during inter-temporal decision-making reduces the rate of DD, eating in and outside of the laboratory, and smoking behavior. The overarching goal of this research is to use an experimental medicine approach to translate basic research on DD and EFT into clinical interventions to prevent the transition from prediabetes to a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Participants will be instructed to use their episodic future cues as they engage in different decision making tasks.
Participants will be instructed to use their episodic recent cues as they engage in different decision making tasks.
Participants will read a narrative to induce a scarcity mindset, in which they are asked to imagine a scenario in which they have lost their job and have no current secondary income.
University at Buffalo, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Behavioral Medicine
Buffalo, New York, United States
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion
Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Change in Delay Discounting
Delay Discounting will be measured using monetary Delay Discounting tasks with $100 as the delayed reward. Delay discounting is assessed using Area Under the Curve (AUC), or time\*indifference point/delay. AUC for delay discounting included time (x-axis) and indifference point (y-axis), or the amount of money at which the immediate and delayed options are approximately equal. Indifference points are a percentage of the max amount (range 0 - 100). AUC adds the calculated areas for each timepoint from the previous timepoint. Ordinal AUC was used as the measure. Ordinal AUC normalizes the horizontal axis time points to have equal distances between them. AUC ranges from 0 (most impulsive, did not choose delay) to 100 (least impulsive, always chose delay). This is the difference in delay discounting between session 2 and session 1. Larger numbers indicate a decrease in discounting, or less impulsive, while smaller/negative numbers indicate an increase in discounting, or more impulsive.
Time frame: Delay Discounting will be measured at baseline (session 1) and after receiving EFT/ERT and Scarcity/Narrative (within about 2 weeks)
Reinforcing Value of Food
Reinforcing value of food was measured using the relative reinforcing efficacy questionnaire in which participants are asked how many portions of food they would purchase at various prices. Intensity is the number of portions they would purchase and consume when the price is $0.
Time frame: Session 2
Change in Working Memory Span
Backwards Corsi is a task that assesses visuo-spatial short term working memory. Participants are asked to watch a series of squares on a computer screen and repeat the sequence backwards. This is done several times and the highest number of correctly remembered locations is the span score, with a possible score of 2 - 9 locations total. Span score represents the number of locations that can be recalled backwards. Larger span scores indicate more locations can be remembered and recalled correctly backwards. This is the difference in score between session 2 and session 1. Larger numbers indicate greater change during the experimental manipulation or better working memory, while smaller or negative numbers indicates lower working memory during the experimental manipulation versus baseline. Numbers close to 0 represent little to no change.
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Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
78
Participants will read a narrative in which they are asked to imagine a scenario in which they have been transferred between departmental jobs, with little change in salary/commute.
Time frame: Working Memory will be measured at baseline (session 1) and after receiving EFT/ERT Scarcity/Neutral intervention (up to 2 weeks post-baseline)