Improving Executive Control in Cognitively Healthy Older Adults: the MUltitasking STrategy (MUST) Study

Launched by RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY · May 21, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The MUST Study is a research project aimed at helping older adults aged 60 to 75 improve their thinking and multitasking skills. As we age, our ability to manage multiple tasks at once can decline, which may lead to issues like cognitive decline or even Alzheimer's disease. This study will look at whether playing a special online game called the Breakfast Game can help enhance these important skills in healthy older adults. To participate, individuals will need to complete some health questionnaires, a cognitive assessment (a simple test to check thinking skills), and a blood test.

Participants will attend two in-person sessions and then take part in an educational session about healthy aging, followed by ten one-hour online training sessions over a month. After completing the program, participants will take the cognitive assessment again to see if there have been any improvements, with follow-up assessments three months later. It's important to note that people with certain cognitive impairments or health conditions may not be eligible for this study. Overall, this trial aims to find effective ways to support healthy aging and improve cognitive function in older adults.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 60-75
• • Adequate English proficiency
• * Willingness to adhere to training protocol:
• • Attend 2 in-person assessments
• • Attend a blood test
• • Attend online intervention sessions and online follow-up assessment
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Low test scores (below 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
• • Known history of cognitive impairment, dementia, stroke, seizure disorder, or other neuropsychiatric condition judged to impact cognitive performance.
• • Taking medications known to influence cognitive performance.
• • Sensory (e.g. visual, auditory) or physical (e.g. severe arthritic, orthopedic, neurologic) impairment incompatible with use of a standard computer workstation.
• • Enrolled in a concurrent study that could affect the outcome of this study.