Online grammatical reasoning training for older adults (START)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impact of short-term intensive online Grammatical Reasoning Training on cognition and function in adults over 50 (GREAT): An online randomised controlled trial
IRAS ID
216941
Contact name
Anne Corbett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
The GREAT study will investigate the impact of playing a Grammatical Reasoning brain training task on overall brain function (cognition) and day-to-day function in people over 50.
The study builds on existing work that has shown very promising results with brain training approaches in older adults. There is good evidence that playing brain training games leads to improvements in brain functions including memory and reasoning. There is also a suggestion that regular involvement in brain training games might help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia later in life. It appears that reasoning, or problem-solving, is particularly important as it is one of the first abilities to decline with age. This study will use this evidence to target reasoning in a specific brain training task. It will also explore the potential role of genetic factors in how people perform in the task.
The study will compare the impact of a Grammatical Reasoning Task (GREAT) with a control task consisting of simple picture-matching. Over 7000 participants will be randomly allocated to either GREAT or the control and will be asked to play the task as often as they wish for a period of six weeks. Both tasks will be delivered entirely online so people will access the study from home on their computers. This will be achieved through our dedicated online research platform, PROTECT, which hosts a cohort of over 20,000 older adults who have provided DNA samples as part of a longitudinal study.
This study will measure the impact of the training on cognition and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Assessments will be completed online at baseline, two/six weeks and six months. Overall, this study aims to generate exciting new data about how brain training could be included in guidance on healthy ageing.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0311
Date of REC Opinion
12 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion