Brain Research Assessing Impacts of Neurophysiological Processing Speed Training in Veterans

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · Jan 18, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how specific training can help improve cognitive skills, especially in older veterans who have experienced mild brain injuries. Researchers want to see if a type of training that focuses on visual attention can enhance the brain's functioning and help veterans perform better in everyday tasks like driving. They will use a method called electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain activity during these tasks, which could help identify personalized treatment options for veterans facing cognitive challenges.

To participate in the trial, individuals need to be veterans aged 18-35 or 50-85, with some having a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Participants must be English-speaking and should not have severe cognitive impairment or certain medical conditions that could affect their involvement. Those who join can expect to undergo brain activity assessments before and after the training, helping researchers understand how effective the training is in improving cognitive processing speed. It's important to note that the study is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to provide valuable insights for future therapies tailored to veterans' needs.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Ages: 18-35 (Younger Group); Ages 50-80 (Healthy Older Group); Ages 50-85 (persons with a history of mild traumatic brain injury)
• • English speaking
• * Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI):
• • A history of mTBI confirmed by the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method-Short Form (including a requirement that the mTBI caused a loss of consciousness lasting less than 30 min).
• • An additional note will be made for Veterans with mTBI with a report of objective or subjective cognitive decline not meeting the criteria (i.e.- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) \>23) for impairment
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Failure to provide informed consent
• • Metal of foreign objects in the body that would interfere with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or transcranial magnetic stimulations (TMS)
• • History of penetrating head wounds or a diagnosis of moderate/severe TBI
• • Participants with significant visual field deficits were excluded, as were those with active suicidal ideation
• • Suicidal ideation will be assessed with the Columbia suicidality scale (C-SSRS)
• • Participants with active ideation will be referred to the Veteran Crisis Line (988) (or walked) to the Front Door program at the Birmingham East clinic
• • Participation in a concurrent clinical trial that could affect study outcome (however, participation in standard treatments e.g. occupational therapy or use of prescribed medications such as antidepressants is acceptable)
• • Smoker \> 1 pack per day
• • Significant cognitive impairment defined as \<23 on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia
• • Visual (corrected acuity \<20/80) and motor capacity (completion of 9-hole pegboard) to use a computerized intervention
• • In-patient status
• • Severe visual impairment, which would preclude completion of the assessments
• • Progressive, degenerative neurologic disease, e.g., Parkinsons Disease, multiple sclerosis
• • Severe rheumatologic or orthopedic diseases, e.g., awaiting joint replacement Actively taking GABAergic agonist/antagonist medication (benzodiazepines, gabapentin, etc.)
• • Terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than 12 months, as determined by a physician
• • Other significant co-morbid diseases that would impair the ability to participate, e.g. renal failure on hemodialysis, severe psychiatric disorder (e.g. bipolar disorder, schizophrenia), heavy alcohol use (\>15 drinks per week); persons with depression will not be excluded
• • Unable to communicate because of severe hearing loss, speech disorder or language barrier