Enhancing Attention in Elderly Using a Brain-Computer-Interface (NCT07441122)
Building Cognitive Reserve Through Brain-Computer-Interfaces
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Cognitive reserve refers to the brain's ability to maintain cognitive performance despite age-related changes or neuropathology. Enhancing cognitive reserve is thought to delay cognitive decline and improve functional outcomes in aging and neurodegenerative conditions. Attention and memory-related neural processes are considered key contributors to cognitive reserve, yet it remains unclear whether these neural markers can be deliberately strengthened through targeted training and non-invasive interventions. The goal of this clinical study is to investigate whether mindfulness-based meditation and non-invasive brain stimulation can enhance neural markers of attention and memory that serve as proxies for cognitive reserve in cognitively healthy adults and older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Investigators hypothesize that strengthening these neural markers will lead to measurable improvements in cognitive reserve-related functions in both healthy aging and MCI populations. This study further hypothesizes that neural markers of attention can be selectively enhanced using an electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) combined with non-invasive interventions such as mindfulness-based relaxation or neuromodulation. During the study, participants will perform a computerized memory task while their EEG signals are recorded in real time. A BCI will analyze these signals to decode the presence or absence of the P300 event-related potential, a well-established neural marker of attentional control and cognitive resource allocation. Real-time feedback and intervention will be used to modulate these neural processes with the goal of promoting adaptive changes in attention-related brain activity. By integrating EEG-based decoding, behavioral training, and non-invasive interventions, this study aims to determine whether targeted modulation of attention-related neural activity can support cognitive reserve in aging and mild cognitive impairment.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, Texas
Age range: 18 Years to 90 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)
- The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, Texas
- Sun City — Georgetown, Texas
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (512) 232-8111
Email: jose.millan@austin.utexas.edu
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
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- An Insole and Ankle Device for Monitoring Cognitive Decline in Individuals at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease and/or Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) — Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Mild Cognitive Impairment Community Screening and Early Intervention Via Stem Cell Therapy and Wearable Brain Computer Interface Device. — Palisades Park, New Jersey
Explore by condition: All Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.