Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation of Executive Deficits in Stroke Patients

Launched by CENTRE HOSPITALIER UNIVERSITAIRE VAUDOIS · Dec 9, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how computerized exercises can help stroke patients who have trouble with thinking and decision-making, known as executive dysfunction. The study involves 32 participants who experienced a stroke at least 8 weeks before joining and are able to engage in moderate physical activity. To be eligible, participants should be at least 18 years old and have specific difficulties with cognitive tasks. The goal is to see if combining mental exercises with physical activity over a six-week training period can improve their thinking skills.

Participants will first complete assessments to measure their cognitive and physical abilities, as well as questionnaires about their mood and daily functioning. After the training, there will be a follow-up evaluation to see how well the participants have improved, and they will also be checked again six months later to assess the long-term benefits of the training. All sessions will take place at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudoise in Switzerland. It's important to note that this study is currently recruiting participants, and those interested should discuss their eligibility with their healthcare provider.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age ≥ 18 years
• • Ischemic or haemorrhagic cerebral stroke ≥ 8 weeks before study inclusion
• • Cognitive complaint and/or clinical impression of dysexecutive syndrome
• • Z-Score \< -1.0 in at least two of the following domains
• • Cognitive flexibility (Trail-Making Test B/A)
• • Cognitive interference (Stroop color word interference task)
• • Divided attention (TAP divided attention)
• • Working memory (TAP working memory, Forward Digit Span, Backward Digit Span)
• • Design fluency (Five-points test)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Major neurocognitive disorder according to the DSM-5
• • Proximal extremity paresis grade \< M4 on the Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale for Muscle Strength in at least one of four extremities
• • Insufficient visual acuity, visual field or hemispatial attention to engage in the training
• • Inability to discriminate colour: \< 12 points on the Ishihara test
• • Changes over the last 4 weeks in antidepressive, anxiolytic or in acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs
• • Thoracic pain and/or heart palpitations at rest, during or following a physical effort (based on self-report)
• • Clinically unstable cardio-vascular disease
• • Falls in the past 12 weeks as evaluated in the enrolment interview \[Hopkins Falls Grading Scale (Grade \>1)\]
• • High risk of falling according to a score of over 15 seconds on the Four Square Step Test (FSST)
• • Insufficient knowledge or capacity of French to follow instructions
• • Incapacity or unwillingness to provide informed consent