Ignite Creation Date:
2024-05-05 @ 11:54 AM
Last Modification Date:
2024-10-26 @ 9:15 AM
Study NCT ID:
NCT00166283
Status:
COMPLETED
Last Update Posted:
2013-06-11
First Post:
2005-09-09
Brief Title:
Improving New Learning and Memory in Multiple Sclerosis
Sponsor:
Kessler Foundation
Organization:
Kessler Foundation
Study Overview
Official Title:
Improving New Learning in Multiple Sclerosis A Randomized Clinical Trial
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2013-06
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
None
Brief Summary:
The current study is a double-blind placebo-control randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of memory retraining in Multiple Sclerosis MS Impairment in higher level cognitive processing such as new learning and memory is one of the most common deficits in individuals with MS and such deficits have been shown to exert significant negative impact on multiple aspects of everyday life including occupational and social functioning Despite these findings few studies have attempted to treat these cognitive deficits in order to improve the everyday functioning of individuals with MS Through a small randomized clinical trial we found that individuals with MS with documented memory impairment show a significant improvement in their memory performance following a treatment protocol designed to facilitate learning The current proposal will replicate this finding and further evaluate a the impact of the treatment on everyday functioning b the long term efficacy of the treatment and c the utility of booster sessions in facilitating long-term treatment effects We will randomly assign individuals with MS with documented impairment in new learning abilities to a memory retraining group or a placebo control group Both groups will undergo baseline immediate and long-term follow-up assessment consisting of 1 a traditional neuropsychological battery and 2 an assessment of global functioning examining the impact of the treatment on daily activities This design will allow us to evaluate the efficacy of this particular memory retraining technique in an MS population through the assessment of cognitive function via a standard evaluation In addition we will be able to draw conclusions regarding the impact of this particular memory remediation program on everyday life from questionnaires completed by the participant and a significant other Optional enrollment in pre- post neuroimaging will also allow us to look at changes in the brain
Detailed Description:
Impairments in higher level cognitive processing such as new learning and memory are among the most common deficits in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis MS and such deficits have been shown to exert significant negative impact on multiple aspects of everyday life including occupational and social functioning Despite these findings few studies have attempted to remediate these cognitive deficits in order to improve the everyday functioning of individuals with MS While limited research addressing the efficacy of memory retraining in MS does exist this research has been marred by significant methodological flaws Specifically the only existing study of memory retraining in MS to utilize 1 a randomized clinical trial and 2 an objective outcome assessment is our pilot research carried out at Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation KMRREC
The Advisory Board recommends that NCMRR initiate and coordinate studies of the effectiveness of medical rehabilitation interventionsusing new and precise quantitative measurements of impairment including functional and societal limitations and disability with particular emphasis on disability and societal limitations The current proposal directly addresses this recommendation of the NCMRR Advisory Board It is designed to 1 replicate our pilot study with larger sample sizes 2 expand our assessment measures to better assess individuals with mild cognitive impairments thus testing the effectiveness of the intervention within this important subpopulation 3 assess the effectiveness of the intervention utilizing more global measures of everyday life including an objective measure the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test which has preliminary support through our pilot study as well as additional questionnaires to be completed by both the participant and a significant other 4 evaluate the long-term effects of the treatment protocol and 5 examine the utility of booster sessions to facilitate long-term treatment effects
To meet these study objectives we will conduct a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial applying a memory rehabilitation technique to a large sample of MS participants This protocol has been well-validated with other neurological populations and preliminary evidence in support of its use in MS now exists Individuals with MS with documented impairment in memory and new learning will be randomly assigned to either a memory retraining group or a placebo control group Outcome will be measured through several mechanisms 1 a traditional neuropsychological NP battery and 2 an assessment of global functioning AGF examining the impact of the treatment on daily activities Both groups will undergo baseline immediate follow-up and long-term follow-up assessments consisting of a traditional NP evaluation which examines objective performance on well-validated measures of cognitive function and an AGF which includes self-report measures of memory abilities self-efficacy quality of life and occupational functioning In this way we will be able to objectively evaluate the presence or absence of changes in memory performance through a NP assessment while also evaluating the impact of this treatment protocol on an individuals everyday life through the AGF While most studies evaluating the efficacy of cognitive retraining usually employ a pre-training and post-training evaluation such evaluations have been criticized for their lack of ecological validity The present design allows the assessment of the efficacy of this particular memory retraining technique within an MS population using traditional measures as well as the assessment of the impact that such a rehabilitation technique has on everyday life In addition we will include a 6-month follow-up assessment to measure the long-term impact of this treatment on objective cognitive functioning through a NP assessment and everyday life through an AGF Finally half of the participants in the experimental group will participate in monthly booster sessions following the completion of treatment and we will evaluate the impact of these sessions on the maintenance of treatment effects over time A subset of the sample will also complete pre and post neuroimaging to evaluate changes in cerebral activation
Many studies have shown that new learning is a key problem in MS In addition a small pilot study funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society NMSS and administered by the current PI tested this memory retraining protocol in an MS population Results showed that when these deficits in new learning are treated a significant improvement is noted in memory performance However the impact of the memory retraining protocol on everyday functioning remains unclear The documentation of the efficacy of memory retraining in MS particularly on everyday functioning could have a significant impact on symptom management and quality of life in the lives of persons with MS As such specific aims of the current research protocol are as follows
Aim 1 This study will objectively evaluate the clinical utility of a memory retraining protocol to improve performance on objective tests of new learning and memory in a large sample of individuals with MS with documented deficits in this area This protocol has been previously utilized in a traumatic brain injury TBI population and a small pilot sample of individuals with MS yielding promising data NCMRR states that research analyzing existing rehabilitation techniques empirically assessing their validity and providing justification to the consumer and practitioners is required for the advancement of the field of medical rehabilitation research and recognizes this as a high priority research area Our study does precisely this
Aim 2 We will increase the generalizability and real life application of assessment techniques by assessing outcome following cognitive retraining with more global measures of everyday life An objective measure of everyday functioning will be included as well as numerous subjective measures of everyday functioning which will be gathered via established self-report instruments as well as ratings by a significant other
Aim 3 This study will also assess the efficacy of this memory retraining protocol in a mildly impaired MS group which has not been properly tested previously Due to measurement ceiling effects in our pilot study the utility of this technique to improve new learning and memory abilities in individuals with mild deficits has not yet been determined The current study improves upon the measurement techniques used in the pilot study
Aim 4 This study will evaluate the long-term efficacy of this memory retraining protocol through the inclusion of a 6-month follow-up assessment Many cognitive remediation studies in the literature examine the efficacy of the treatment immediately following program completion However given the time expense and labor involved in such intensive treatment it is important to demonstrate the long-term efficacy of such a program The current study therefore goes beyond the typical protocol length to evaluate the long-term impact such treatment will have on objective testing and on an individuals daily life
Aim 5 Booster sessions have been used to maximize the long term benefit of cognitive retraining in other patient populations However the utility of booster sessions has never been investigated in MS An additional question we will address in the current treatment study is the impact of booster sessions following the completion of the treatment protocol
The Advisory Board recommends that NCMRR initiate and coordinate studies of the effectiveness of medical rehabilitation interventionsusing new and precise quantitative measurements of impairment including functional and societal limitations and disability with particular emphasis on disability and societal limitations The current proposal directly addresses this recommendation of the NCMRR Advisory Board It is designed to 1 replicate our pilot study with larger sample sizes 2 expand our assessment measures to better assess individuals with mild cognitive impairments thus testing the effectiveness of the intervention within this important subpopulation 3 assess the effectiveness of the intervention utilizing more global measures of everyday life including an objective measure the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test which has preliminary support through our pilot study as well as additional questionnaires to be completed by both the participant and a significant other 4 evaluate the long-term effects of the treatment protocol and 5 examine the utility of booster sessions to facilitate long-term treatment effects
To meet these study objectives we will conduct a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial applying a memory rehabilitation technique to a large sample of MS participants This protocol has been well-validated with other neurological populations and preliminary evidence in support of its use in MS now exists Individuals with MS with documented impairment in memory and new learning will be randomly assigned to either a memory retraining group or a placebo control group Outcome will be measured through several mechanisms 1 a traditional neuropsychological NP battery and 2 an assessment of global functioning AGF examining the impact of the treatment on daily activities Both groups will undergo baseline immediate follow-up and long-term follow-up assessments consisting of a traditional NP evaluation which examines objective performance on well-validated measures of cognitive function and an AGF which includes self-report measures of memory abilities self-efficacy quality of life and occupational functioning In this way we will be able to objectively evaluate the presence or absence of changes in memory performance through a NP assessment while also evaluating the impact of this treatment protocol on an individuals everyday life through the AGF While most studies evaluating the efficacy of cognitive retraining usually employ a pre-training and post-training evaluation such evaluations have been criticized for their lack of ecological validity The present design allows the assessment of the efficacy of this particular memory retraining technique within an MS population using traditional measures as well as the assessment of the impact that such a rehabilitation technique has on everyday life In addition we will include a 6-month follow-up assessment to measure the long-term impact of this treatment on objective cognitive functioning through a NP assessment and everyday life through an AGF Finally half of the participants in the experimental group will participate in monthly booster sessions following the completion of treatment and we will evaluate the impact of these sessions on the maintenance of treatment effects over time A subset of the sample will also complete pre and post neuroimaging to evaluate changes in cerebral activation
Many studies have shown that new learning is a key problem in MS In addition a small pilot study funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society NMSS and administered by the current PI tested this memory retraining protocol in an MS population Results showed that when these deficits in new learning are treated a significant improvement is noted in memory performance However the impact of the memory retraining protocol on everyday functioning remains unclear The documentation of the efficacy of memory retraining in MS particularly on everyday functioning could have a significant impact on symptom management and quality of life in the lives of persons with MS As such specific aims of the current research protocol are as follows
Aim 1 This study will objectively evaluate the clinical utility of a memory retraining protocol to improve performance on objective tests of new learning and memory in a large sample of individuals with MS with documented deficits in this area This protocol has been previously utilized in a traumatic brain injury TBI population and a small pilot sample of individuals with MS yielding promising data NCMRR states that research analyzing existing rehabilitation techniques empirically assessing their validity and providing justification to the consumer and practitioners is required for the advancement of the field of medical rehabilitation research and recognizes this as a high priority research area Our study does precisely this
Aim 2 We will increase the generalizability and real life application of assessment techniques by assessing outcome following cognitive retraining with more global measures of everyday life An objective measure of everyday functioning will be included as well as numerous subjective measures of everyday functioning which will be gathered via established self-report instruments as well as ratings by a significant other
Aim 3 This study will also assess the efficacy of this memory retraining protocol in a mildly impaired MS group which has not been properly tested previously Due to measurement ceiling effects in our pilot study the utility of this technique to improve new learning and memory abilities in individuals with mild deficits has not yet been determined The current study improves upon the measurement techniques used in the pilot study
Aim 4 This study will evaluate the long-term efficacy of this memory retraining protocol through the inclusion of a 6-month follow-up assessment Many cognitive remediation studies in the literature examine the efficacy of the treatment immediately following program completion However given the time expense and labor involved in such intensive treatment it is important to demonstrate the long-term efficacy of such a program The current study therefore goes beyond the typical protocol length to evaluate the long-term impact such treatment will have on objective testing and on an individuals daily life
Aim 5 Booster sessions have been used to maximize the long term benefit of cognitive retraining in other patient populations However the utility of booster sessions has never been investigated in MS An additional question we will address in the current treatment study is the impact of booster sessions following the completion of the treatment protocol
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
None
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?:
None
Secondary IDs
| Secondary ID | Type | Domain | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| R01HD045798 | NIH | None | httpsreporternihgovquickSearchR01HD045798 |