Dual Task Perturbation Training for Mild Cognitive Impairment

This study is testing a training program called "Dual Task Perturbation Training" for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or those who are cognitively intact. The training involves playing six cognitive games while standing, followed by practicing balance recovery after slips without cognitive tasks. Researchers want to see if this training can improve balance and reduce falls by enhancing how people react to losing their balance. You might be able to join if you are an adult over 55 years old, with or without mild cognitive impairment, and do not have certain other health conditions like stroke or Parkinson's disease. The study aims to measure changes in balance stability and how often people fall in a lab setting. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 142 participants. It compares a dual-task training method to a single-task training method.
What's involved
Participants will engage in cognitive games while standing, followed by balance training involving slips. The primary endpoints are measured at baseline, immediately after training, and after 4 weeks of training.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The study measures changes up to 4 weeks after the training period.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04938349

Dual Task Perturbation Training for OAwMCI

Recruiting
NAAges 55+InterventionalTreatment
University of Illinois at Chicago
~142 participants
Updated 2026-07-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Dual task perturbation training

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Stability gain or loss
Measured over Baseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training
+14 more outcomes measured
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Old Age; Debility

NCT04938349

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Illinois at Chicago

    Chicago, Illinoisstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Tanvi Bhatt · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Illinois at Chicago

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age group: Older adults between the age group \> 55 years old with MOCA less than 26 out of 30 will be classified as mild cognitive impairment and those above 26 out of 30 as cognitively intact older adults .
Absence of any acute or chronic neurological (Stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease), cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, or systemic diagnosis.
No recent major surgery (\< 6 months) or hospitalization (\< 3 months)
Not on any sedative drugs
Can understand and communicate in English
Ability to walk more than 10 meters without an assistive device

Exclusion

Participants will not proceed with the study if any of the following occurs at baseline measurement: 1) HR \> 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (HRmax = 220 - age), 2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 165 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 110 mmHg during resting), and/or 3) oxygen saturation (measured by pulse oximeter) during resting \< 90%.
History of bone fracture or significant other systemic disease or surgery in the last six months
Specific to MRI participants: Self-reported presence of a pacemaker, metal implants other than orthopedic implants, and/or Claustrophobia, cataract surgery (lens not compatible to the MRI confirmed by the MRI technician)
Weighs \> 220 lbs (Harness weight threshold)
  • Change in Stability gain or lossBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    Stability is defined by both the position of a person's center-of-mass (COM) with respect to his or her base-of-support (BOS) and it's velocity.

  • Change in Limb support gain or lossBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    The inability to provide timely limb support due to insufficient amount of upward impulse generated from the ground reactive force can cause limb collapse, as characterized by the quotient of amount and rate of hip descent (Vhip/Zhip) measured from hip height and lead to an eventual fall.

  • Change in laboratory-induced fallsBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    Perturbation is induced successfully and safely to reproduce inadvertent falls in a protective laboratory environment. Falls will be measured by the amount of body weight supported by the full-body harness system and measured by a load cell attached to this system. Instability of the body's COM and poor limb support prior to touchdown of the recovery step account for 90\~100% of subsequent falls (occurring \~500ms later) in both sit-to-stand-slip and in gait-slip, in the laboratory settings. Intervention consists of repeated perturbation training to induce a change in the laboratory induced falls immediately post-training and examine it's retention after the initial training session.

  • Change in postural stability during reactive balance control (single and dual-task) on treadmill slipsBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    Reactive balance control will be examined via the stance perturbation test under single and dual-task conditions (simultaneous performance of Letter number sequencing task or auditory stroop task). Postural stability can be defined as simultaneous control of center of mass (COM) position and velocity during slip-like or trip like perturbation relative to the rear edge of base of support (rear heel). The position is normalized with the individual's foot length, and velocity by square root of gravitational acceleration and individual's body height. Larger values indicate greater stability.

  • Change in postural stability during reactive balance control (single and dual-task) on overground slipsBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    Reactive balance control will be examined via the stance perturbation test under single and dual-task conditions (simultaneous performance of Letter number sequencing task or auditory stroop task). Postural stability can be defined as simultaneous control of center of mass (COM) position and velocity during slip-like or trip like perturbation relative to the rear edge of base of support (rear heel). The position is normalized with the individual's foot length, and velocity by square root of gravitational acceleration and individual's body height. Larger values indicate greater stability.

  • Change in walking step lengthBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    Step length will be determined during single and dual-task walking performance via the walking on the treadmill and the GaitRite mat. Higher values for step length indicate better performance.

  • Change in walking cadenceBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    Cadence will be determined during single and dual-task walking performance via the walking on the treadmill and the GaitRite mat. Lower cadence indicate better performance.

  • Change in walking stride lengthBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    Stride length will be determined during single and dual-task walking performance via the walking on the treadmill and the GaitRite mat. Higher values for stride length indicate better performance.

  • Change of accuracy in letter number sequencingBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    This is an oral trail making test which includes listing alternate letter and number from the cue given in sequence. This test will be performed under single and dual-task conditions. Higher scores indicate better performance.

  • Change in accuracy of Visual clock testBaseline (1st novel slip, trip week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    This test involves responding to the location of the minute and hour hand on a clock. This test will be performed under single and dual-task conditions. Higher scores indicate better performance.

  • Change in dual-task costBaseline (week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    Dual-task motor and cognitive cost will be calculated using the formula- \[(Dual-task performance- Single Task performance)/Single task performance\]. This will be calculated for dual-task performance during intentional postural sway, reactive balance control and gait conditions. Lower cost indicates better performance.

  • Change in visuomotor taskBaseline (week 1), immediate post-training (repeated perturbation training session, week 1) and 4 weeks of training

    This test involves continuous tracking of a cyclic moving target on the screen using a motion sensor placed on the head. Higher scores indicates poor performance.

  • Fractional anisotropyBaseline (week 1)

    White matter integrity tested using magnetic resonance imaging

  • Gray matter volumeBaseline (week 1)

    Gray matter volume tested using magnetic resonance imaging

  • Functional connectivity Z scoreBaseline (week 1)

    Resting state functional connectivity using magnetic resonance imaging