D3 | Abstract 09

Annual NUTRIM Symposium 18 November 2020

APPLIED SCIENCE

Efficacy of working memory training in COPD: the randomized placebo-controlled Cogtrain trial

Martijn van Beers 1, Sarah W. Mount 1, Katrijn Houben 2, Harry R. Gosker 1, Lisanne Schuurman 1, Frits M. E. Franssen 1,3, Daisy J. A. Janssen 3,4, Annemie M. W. J. Schols 1

1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2 Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
3 Department of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands
4 Department of Health Services Research, Care And Public Health Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Rationale:
 Cognitive impairment (CI) is highly prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet as well as with increased cognitive stress susceptibility. Enhancement of cognitive performance by working memory training (WMT) may reverse these effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of WMT in COPD on cognitive performance, healthy lifestyle behaviors and cognitive stress susceptibility.

Methods:
 The double-blind randomized placebo-controlled Cogtrain trial consisted of a 12-week training phase comprising 30 active or sham WMT sessions, followed by a second 12-week maintenance phase with 12 sessions. Measurements took place 1 week before baseline, at baseline, and directly after the first and second phases. The primary outcome was cognitive performance as measured using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Secondary outcomes were physical capacity and activity, dietary quality, the recall of prespecified healthy lifestyle goals and cognitive stress susceptibility. Motivation towards exercising and healthy eating and psychological wellbeing were exploratory outcomes.

Results:
 Sixty-four COPD patients (45% male, aged 66.2±7.2 years, FEV1 61.2±22.4% predicted) were randomized. WMT significantly increased performance on the trained tasks in the first phase and remained stable in the second phase. However, of the 17 cognitive outcome measures only one measure of memory improved after the first phase and one measure of reaction time improved after the second phase. A significant beneficial effect on intrinsic motivation towards healthy eating coincided with improved dietary quality across both groups over the first phase. This intervention did not influence physical capacity and activity, the recall of prespecified healthy lifestyle goals, motivation towards exercising or psychological wellbeing.

Conclusion:
 WMT improved performance on the trained tasks but not overall cognitive performance, healthy lifestyle behaviors or cognitive stress susceptibility in patients with COPD.
OVERVIEW D3 ABSTRACTS OVERVIEW APPLIED SCIENCE

NUTRIM | School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism
NUTRIM aims to contribute to health maintenance and personalised medicine by unraveling lifestyle and disease-induced derangements in metabolism and by developing targeted nutritional, exercise and drug interventions. This is facilitated by a state of the art research infrastructure and close interaction between scientists, clinicians, master and PhD students.
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/nutrim