Remote Cognitive TrainingNCT07521865
Remote Technologies in Early Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
An observational study of Remote Cognitive Training and Alzheimer Disease, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
The investigators are adapting a tablet-based cognitive training program for Alzheimer's disease (AD) by focusing on specific cognitive components. It is aimed to demonstrate the feasibility, acceptability and usability of remote cognitive training in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD dementia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 70 to 95 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Remote Cognitive Training, Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment
- What is being tested?
- App-based cognitive training
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- How many people
- 52 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2023to 30 Apr 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 70 to 95 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Study population: Participants will be recruited by newspaper adverts and flyers after public talks. It is also intended to recruit visitors from the day clinic as well as patients from the Interdisciplinary Memory Clinic (IDMC) Bern (https://www.memory-clinic-bern.ch/) and the Domicil care home group (www.domicilbern.ch).
Who may be able to join
None listed.
Who cannot join
- Substance abuse
- Severe neurological or psychiatric conditions (of note: patients with mild depressive symptoms not fulfilling the criteria for major depressive disorder will be recruited into the sample to better represent clinical reality)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Switzerland1 site
University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bern
Bern, Canton of Bern, 3000
About this study
Official title: Remote Technologies in Early Stages of Alzheimer's Disease: Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptance of an App-based Cognitive Training
The investigators are adapting a tablet-based cognitive training program for Alzheimer's disease (AD) by focusing on specific cognitive components. It is aimed to demonstrate the feasibility, acceptability and usability of remote cognitive training in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD dementia. The study involves 36 participants in three groups, with a two-week intervention and focus groups for refinement.
Read the detailed description
The investigators aim to extend a tablet-computer-based cognitive training (CT), fully developed in house (KEK 2020-00630), and tailored specifically towards a "typical-AD" cognitive component. This cognitive component is defined through a principal-component analysis (PCA), on which the domains affected by AD (episodic memory, spatial processing, semantic memory) have high loadings. The investigators moreover train working memory training to facilitate transfer effects. By including carers (family members, friends, professional carers) in the focus groups and the integration of help buttons, the investigators expect high adherence. The CT will be based on our ongoing study assessing the CT in people at risk for AD and subjective cognitive decline.
The investigators plan a small feasibility study in three different groups with a total of 36 elderly participants including cognitively normal (N=12), MCI (N=12), and mild-moderate stage dementia due to AD (N=12).
The focus will be on qualitative content analyses based on the results from the focus groups. The results from the first focus group sessions serve the selection, adaptation, and improvement of the CT before it is implemented in the two-week intervention including daily 30-minutes training sessions. A second focus group after the intervention will serve to gain additional insights from users and carers to further improve the CT. To complement this information, the investigators will quantitatively compare specific game parameters related to feasibility (number of levels achieved, numbers of sessions finished, number of dropouts), usability (time until reaching level 1 - learn duration, numbers of help button presses), and acceptability (game evaluation) between the three treatment groups.
The investigators aim to demonstrate that remote CT is possible in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and diagnosed AD dementia at home and in the care home setting by extending an existing tablet-based CT app with additional (easier) training levels, additional and detailed introductory material to also allow cognitively more severely impaired participants to conduct the CT with as little external support as possible. This study is considered as Risk Category A. The study intervention consists of a tablet-based CT, which does not provide any known risks for the participants.
- Conditions
- Remote Cognitive Training, Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Old Age; Dementia, Serious Games, App-based Cognitive Training
- Being tested
- App-based cognitive training
- Keywords
- Alzheimer's Disease, Remote technology, Cognitive training, Old Age Psychiatry
- Medical subject headings
- Alzheimer Disease, Cognitive Dysfunction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
App-based cognitive trainingDevice
The cognitive training is administered remotely for 2 weeks daily (10 sessions). The participants play all 12 games for 8 minutes in each session.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| HC - Healthy Control Group | Healthy, age- and sex-matched participants (cognitively normal) Receives: Device: App-based cognitive training | |
| MCI - Mild Cognitive Impairment | Participants with MCI Receives: Device: App-based cognitive training | |
| AD - Alzheimer's Disease | Participants with mild-moderate stage dementia due to AD Receives: Device: App-based cognitive training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility of tablet-based cognitive training
Compliance rate (i.e.number of sessions completed)
Measured: Assessed at the end of the 2-week intervention (Day 10)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Feasibility of tablet-based cognitive training
Number of levels achieved
Measured: Assessed at the end of the 2-week intervention (Day 10)
Usability
Time until accomplishment of the first level (learning time)
Measured: Assessed at the end of the 2-week intervention (Day 10)
Acceptability
Qualitative evaluation of the games in a semi-structured interview (Focus group discussion). For each game, the same questions will be addressed in an open discussion.
Measured: Assessed within two weeks after day 10 of the intervention
2. Feasibility of tablet-based cognitive training
Number of drop-outs
Measured: Assessed at the end of the 2-week intervention (Day 10)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Jun 2023
- Primary completion30 Apr 2026
- Study completion30 Apr 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Remote Cognitive TrainingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of BernThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 52 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Bern
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Anna-Katharine Brem, Study chair, University Hospiltal of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07521865
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ALZ-RCT-BREM
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 26 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The investigators will share encrypted study data used for publications in an appropriate open access data base
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Remote Technologies in Early Stages of Alzheimer's Disease: Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptance of an App-based Cognitive Training
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07521865
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ALZ-RCT-BREM
- Conditions
- Remote Cognitive Training, Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Old Age; Dementia, Serious Games, App-based Cognitive Training
- Keywords
- Alzheimer's Disease, Remote technology, Cognitive training, Old Age Psychiatry
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 52 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of BernUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Apr 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Apr 2026 (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 investigators are adapting a tablet-based cognitive training program for Alzheimer's disease (AD) by focusing on specific cognitive components. It is aimed to demonstrate the feasibility, acceptability and usability of remote cognitive training in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD dementia. The study involves 36 participants in three groups, with a two-week intervention and focus groups for refinement.
Detailed description
The investigators aim to extend a tablet-computer-based cognitive training (CT), fully developed in house (KEK 2020-00630), and tailored specifically towards a "typical-AD" cognitive component. This cognitive component is defined through a principal-component analysis (PCA), on which the domains affected by AD (episodic memory, spatial processing, semantic memory) have high loadings. The investigators moreover train working memory training to facilitate transfer effects. By including carers (family members, friends, professional carers) in the focus groups and the integration of help buttons, the investigators expect high adherence. The CT will be based on our ongoing study assessing the CT in people at risk for AD and subjective cognitive decline.
The investigators plan a small feasibility study in three different groups with a total of 36 elderly participants including cognitively normal (N=12), MCI (N=12), and mild-moderate stage dementia due to AD (N=12).
The focus will be on qualitative content analyses based on the results from the focus groups. The results from the first focus group sessions serve the selection, adaptation, and improvement of the CT before it is implemented in the two-week intervention including daily 30-minutes training sessions. A second focus group after the intervention will serve to gain additional insights from users and carers to further improve the CT. To complement this information, the investigators will quantitatively compare specific game parameters related to feasibility (number of levels achieved, numbers of sessions finished, number of dropouts), usability (time until reaching level 1 - learn duration, numbers of help button presses), and acceptability (game evaluation) between the three treatment groups.
The investigators aim to demonstrate that remote CT is possible in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and diagnosed AD dementia at home and in the care home setting by extending an existing tablet-based CT app with additional (easier) training levels, additional and detailed introductory material to also allow cognitively more severely impaired participants to conduct the CT with as little external support as possible. This study is considered as Risk Category A. The study intervention consists of a tablet-based CT, which does not provide any known risks for the participants.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| HC - Healthy Control Group | – | Device: App-based cognitive trainingHealthy, age- and sex-matched participants (cognitively normal) |
| MCI - Mild Cognitive Impairment | – | Device: App-based cognitive trainingParticipants with MCI |
| AD - Alzheimer's Disease | – | Device: App-based cognitive trainingParticipants with mild-moderate stage dementia due to AD |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 70 to 95 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
- Study population
- Participants will be recruited by newspaper adverts and flyers after public talks. It is also intended to recruit visitors from the day clinic as well as patients from the Interdisciplinary Memory Clinic (IDMC) Bern (https://www.memory-clinic-bern.ch/) and the Domicil care home group (www.domicilbern.ch).
Key inclusion criteria (0 listed)
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Substance abuse
- Severe neurological or psychiatric conditions (of note: patients with mild depressive symptoms not fulfilling the criteria for major depressive disorder will be recruited into the sample to better represent clinical reality)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| App-based cognitive trainingThe cognitive training is administered remotely for 2 weeks daily (10 sessions). The participants play all 12 games for 8 minutes in each session. | Device | AD - Alzheimer's Disease, HC - Healthy Control Group, MCI - Mild Cognitive Impairment |
Primary outcome
Feasibility of tablet-based cognitive training
Time frame: Assessed at the end of the 2-week intervention (Day 10)
Compliance rate (i.e.number of sessions completed)
4 secondary outcomes
Feasibility of tablet-based cognitive training
Time frame: Assessed at the end of the 2-week intervention (Day 10)
Usability
Time frame: Assessed at the end of the 2-week intervention (Day 10)
Acceptability
Time frame: Assessed within two weeks after day 10 of the intervention
2. Feasibility of tablet-based cognitive training
Time frame: Assessed at the end of the 2-week intervention (Day 10)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Jun 2026.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The investigators will share encrypted study data used for publications in an appropriate open access data base
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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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Anna-Katharine Brem study chair
University Hospiltal of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Remote Cognitive Training and Alzheimer Disease, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
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 0 inclusion and 2 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Jun 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 Switzerland. 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. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility of tablet-based cognitive training (time frame: Assessed at the end of the 2-week intervention (Day 10)). 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 26 Jun 2026.