AgingNCT06269939
Theory-Driven Manualized Approach to Improving New Learning and Memory in Healthy Aging and MCI
A study testing STEM in people with Aging, run by Kessler Foundation at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effectiveness of a memory enhancement technique in an aging population. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 60 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Aging
- What is being tested?
- STEM
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 15 Dec 2025to 30 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 60 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- read and speak English fluently
Who cannot join
- prior stroke or neurological injury/disease (i.e. traumatic brain injury, Multiple Sclerosis, or Stroke).
- history of significant psychiatric illness (for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis).
- significant alcohol or drug abuse history (inpatient treatment).
- Benzodiazepines and steroid use
- Diagnosis of dementia
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Kessler Foundation
East Hanover, New Jersey, 07936
Nancy Moore, 973-324-8450, nbmoore@kesslerfoundation.org
About this study
Official title: Evaluation of a Theory-Driven Manualized Approach to Improving New Learning and Memory in Healthy Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment
The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effectiveness of a memory enhancement technique in an aging population.
Read the detailed description
Memory enhancing techniques have been incorporated into an 8-session treatment protocol, Strategy Based Training to Enhance Memory (STEM), designed to teach participants about each of the techniques, train them on how to apply the techniques in daily life and practice their application to daily life memory demanding situations. The protocol includes teaching participants over age 60 how to restructure a memory demanding situation in order to make optimal use of the techniques.
- Conditions
- Aging
- Being tested
- STEM
- Keywords
- memory
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
STEMBehavioural
Memory technique training
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental group | Experimental | The experimental group will receive memory techniques training administered twice a week for four weeks (8 training sessions). Receives: Behavioral: STEM |
| Control group | Placebo comparator | The control group will receive memory exercises administered twice a week for four weeks (8 sessions). Receives: Behavioral: STEM |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Verbal Leaning task
Change in total score from Open-Trial Selective Reminding Test (OT-SRT)
Measured: Three points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- months after treatment is completed]
Participation in Everyday life
Change in total score from Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools
Measured: Three points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- months after treatment is completed]
Secondary outcomes (1)
Functional Neuroimaging
Change in total scores from memory task during fMRI scan
Measured: Two points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Feb 2024
- Study start15 Dec 2025
- Primary completion30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AgingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kessler Foundation
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nancy Chiaravalloti, Kessler Foundation
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06269939
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- R-1253-24
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Feb 2024
- Last updated
- 22 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of a Theory-Driven Manualized Approach to Improving New Learning and Memory in Healthy Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06269939
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- R-1253-24
- Conditions
- Aging
- Keywords
- memory
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Kessler FoundationUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Feb 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effectiveness of a memory enhancement technique in an aging population.
Detailed description
Memory enhancing techniques have been incorporated into an 8-session treatment protocol, Strategy Based Training to Enhance Memory (STEM), designed to teach participants about each of the techniques, train them on how to apply the techniques in daily life and practice their application to daily life memory demanding situations. The protocol includes teaching participants over age 60 how to restructure a memory demanding situation in order to make optimal use of the techniques.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental group | Experimental | Behavioral: STEMThe experimental group will receive memory techniques training administered twice a week for four weeks (8 training sessions). |
| Control group | Placebo comparator | Behavioral: STEMThe control group will receive memory exercises administered twice a week for four weeks (8 sessions). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 60 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- prior stroke or neurological injury/disease (i.e. traumatic brain injury, Multiple Sclerosis, or Stroke).
- history of significant psychiatric illness (for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis).
- significant alcohol or drug abuse history (inpatient treatment).
- Benzodiazepines and steroid use
- Diagnosis of dementia
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| STEMMemory technique training | Behavioural | Control group, Experimental group |
Primary outcome
Verbal Leaning task
Time frame: Three points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- months after treatment is completed]
Change in total score from Open-Trial Selective Reminding Test (OT-SRT)
Participation in Everyday life
Time frame: Three points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- months after treatment is completed]
Change in total score from Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools
1 secondary outcome
Functional Neuroimaging
Time frame: Two points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing STEM in people with Aging, run by Kessler Foundation at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nancy Moore (19733248450, nbmoore@kesslerfoundation.org), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Verbal Leaning task (time frame: Three points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment, and 6- months after treatment is completed]). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Jul 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 28 Oct 2026.