None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Participation in the Mind Your Nose Trial may be associated with gains in aspects of visual and olfactory based memory. Gains in other outcomes such as mood and psychological wellbeing are also possible. It is hypothesised that olfactory based memory training may lead to gains in both olfactory memory and visual memory. This study will contribute to the current understandings of how we might prevent and treat olfactory and cognitive difficulties in older adults. Findings may have implications for improving functional abilities of older adults, enabling them to lead fulfilling and independent lives. In a very small number of cases, it is possible that participation in the current study will identify a need to refer a participant for more a detailed neuropsychological assessment which may reveal signs of cognitive decline which could turn out to be due to a neurodegenerative condition. It is therefore possible that through participation in this study, earlier detection of cognitive changes will lead to an earlier diagnosis of relevant conditions associated with older age.
Interventions
The proposed intervention will be evaluated in a single-blind pilot RCT comparing olfactory-
based memory training (OMT) with visually-based memory training (VMT). Participants will be asked to complete 2 X 10-minute training sessions per day, for a period of 4 weeks (20 training days). Task performance during training sessions will be documented on activity logbooks/scoring sheets supplied to each participant, and they will be further supported by detailed instruction booklets. The instruction
The proposed intervention will be evaluated in a single-blind pilot RCT comparing olfactory- based memory training (OMT) with visually-based memory training (VMT). Participants will be asked to complete 2 X 10-minute training sessions per day, for a period of 4 weeks (20 training days). Task performance during training sessions will be documented on activity logbooks/scoring sheets supplied to each participant, and they will be further supported by detailed instruction booklets. The instruction booklets will be created specifically for the trial. Participants will also be given a 15-minute demonstration in person by a research assistant and an explanation of the memory training procedure before starting their training regimen. Participants will receive weekly phone calls with a therapist to discuss how they are finding the training, provide encouragement, and monitor progress/ adherence to training. The phone calls will last approximately 10-15 minutes. OMT will take the form of a memory board game in which 24 tin cans containing 12 pairs of commercially available flavored teas are randomly arranged in 6X4 grid. During each training session, participants will be required to learn the location of pairs of odor stimuli on a game board. In each trial, participants select two tin cans sequentially and sniff their contents. Once a pair of identical odor stimuli are selected, the two tin cans are removed from the game board. The number of trials required to remove all odor pairs from the game board forms the main measure of performance, with fewer trials indicating better performance. Verification of a correct match requires participants to compare barcoded labels affixed to the bottom of each can.
Sponsors
The University of Melbourne
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Community-dwelling older people aged 65 years and older; subjective (self-reported) cognitive concerns (with or without objective cognitive impairment).
Exclusion criteria
Diagnosis of dementia; olfactory impairment secondary to a recent viral infection (including covid-19); current smoker; significant neurological or psychiatric condition likely to affect engagement with the training program (e.g., clinically significant depression or anxiety).
Outcome results
None listed