Cognitive decline in cancer: Investigating a brain training intervention

Brief name: cognitive training Variables collected include cognitive performance, psychosocial functioning, medical history, and peripheral plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. This study entails a double blinded randomised control trial, evaluating the efficacy of a cognitive training intervention in treating cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). The doctoral candidate is blinded to the intervention/control groups. Cognitive training is theorised to work by stimulating neuroplasticity - a process intricately linked with neurogenesis. The intervention used in the RCT will be a computerised cognitive training intervention (Cognifit) which will be administered at home, through participants' personal hardware (computer, phone, tablet). The procedure for participants entails completing brain training tasks. The task difficulty will be tailored by the programme software to each individual participant, in order to be sufficiently challenging but not overwhelming. This is to facilitate yield of optimal cognitive benefit. The tailoring of the difficulty is done automatically by the programme throughout each training session. The control group participants will be receiving a placebo/active control, which are cognitive activities that do not target proposed impaired domains of cognition (i.e., memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed). The process, administration, delivery, location etc. will mirror the intervention group. Cognitive training tasks include (but are not limited to): puzzles, games, word problems. The cognitive training will be a global battery of tasks, with stimulated domains including (but not limited to) memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed. This intervention is self-administered with reminders. The doctoral candidate leading the study will provide information on use to participants. Each participant will follow their own timeline. The intervention will be delivered across six weeks, with a minimum of four administrations per week; each session will be a minimum of 20 minutes. To clarify, the base requirement is that participants must complete a minimum of 120 minutes of training per week - i.e., 720 minutes / 12 hours of training across the six weeks. The additional requirements are that the weekly 120 minutes must be completed across four or more training sessions, and each session should be a minimum of 20 minutes. However, note that four sessions of 20 minutes do not actually meet the minimum weekly 120 minutes - they merely form the minimum training parameters. The actual duration of each session will depend on total weekly number of sessions. This can be done multiple ways. Some possible examples include (but are not limited to): o 4 x 30 min = 120 min o 6 x 20 min = 120 min o 3 x 20 min + 2 x 30 min = 120 min o 2 x 20 min + 2 x 25 min + 1 x 30 min = 120 min There is no maximum amount of training. Each participant will be asked to complete the training in their own home at whichever times best suit them, so long as the minimum 12 hours of training is achieved, in the required weekly increments. Additionally, a CogniFit General Cognitive Assessment (30 min) will be completed at the start and end of the six weeks; this is an in house tool is required for the programme to calibrate and evaluate the participants' training. Intervention adherence and fidelity will be assessed by the doctoral candidate. The daily reminders will help minimise attrition. At the end of this six-week trial, participants will attend a follow-up assessment (90-120 min), mirroring the appointment at the baseline. Ideally, this follow-up will be conducted within one week of completing cognitive training.