Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Current issue
  • Early View
  • Archive
  • Authors/reviewers
    • Instructions for authors
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Institutional open access agreements
    • Peer reviewer login
  • Alerts
  • Subscriptions
  • ERS Publications
    • European Respiratory Journal
    • ERJ Open Research
    • European Respiratory Review
    • Breathe
    • ERS Books
    • ERS publications home

User menu

  • Log in
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
  • ERS Publications
    • European Respiratory Journal
    • ERJ Open Research
    • European Respiratory Review
    • Breathe
    • ERS Books
    • ERS publications home

Login

European Respiratory Society

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Current issue
  • Early View
  • Archive
  • Authors/reviewers
    • Instructions for authors
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Institutional open access agreements
    • Peer reviewer login
  • Alerts
  • Subscriptions

Working memory training efficacy in COPD: the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Cogtrain trial

Martijn van Beers, Sarah W. Mount, Katrijn Houben, Harry R. Gosker, Lisanne Schuurman, Frits M.E. Franssen, Daisy J.A. Janssen, Annemie M.W.J. Schols
ERJ Open Research 2021 7: 00475-2021; DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00475-2021
Martijn van Beers
1Dept of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Martijn van Beers
Sarah W. Mount
1Dept of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Katrijn Houben
2Dept of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Harry R. Gosker
1Dept of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Harry R. Gosker
Lisanne Schuurman
1Dept of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Frits M.E. Franssen
1Dept of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
3Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Frits M.E. Franssen
Daisy J.A. Janssen
3Dept of Research and Education, CIRO, Horn, The Netherlands
4Dept of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Daisy J.A. Janssen
Annemie M.W.J. Schols
1Dept of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: a.schols@maastrichtuniversity.nl
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Figures

  • Tables
  • Supplementary Materials
  • FIGURE 1
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    FIGURE 1

    Study design.

  • FIGURE 2
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    FIGURE 2

    Study flowchart. WMT: working memory training.

  • FIGURE 3
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    FIGURE 3

    Working memory span over the course of the first (session 1–30) and second phase (session 31–42) of the working memory training.

Tables

  • Figures
  • Supplementary Materials
  • TABLE 1

    Outcome measures and time points at which they were taken

    InstrumentT0T1T2T3
    Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics
     Age, sex, educational level, smoking statusX
     SpirometryX
     Manipulation checkXX
     Working memory spanXX
     Number of completed sessionsXX
    Primary outcome measures
     Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery#XXXX
     Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-RevisedX
    Secondary outcome measures
     Physical capacity and activity
      6-min walk testXXX
      Short Physical Performance BatteryXXX
      AccelerometryXXX
     Dietary intake
      Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010XXX
     Cognitive stress susceptibility and perception
      Cortisol Awakening ResponseXX
      Perceived Stress ScaleXXX
      Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor TestXXX
     Healthy lifestyle goal recall¶XX
    Exploratory outcome measures
     Healthy lifestyle motivation
      Behavioural Regulation of Exercise Questionnaire-2XX
      Regulation of Eating Behaviours ScaleXX
     Psychological wellbeing
      Beck Depression Inventory-IIXXX
      Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7XXX

    T0: baseline minus 1 week; T1: baseline; T2: after the first phase (baseline+12 weeks); T3: after the second phase (baseline+24 weeks). #: administration at T0 took place to compensate for learning effects. ¶: healthy lifestyle goals were set at T1.

    • TABLE 2

      Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics

      InterventionPlacebo
      nn
      Age (years)3366.0±6.83166.4±7.8
      Sex (male/female)3313/203116/15
      Educational level3331
       Primary school2 (6.1%)0 (0.0%)
       Initial vocational education0 (0.0%)3 (9.8%)
       High school10 (30.3%)10 (32.3%)
       Intermediate vocational education6 (18.2%)8 (25.8%)
       Higher vocational education12 (36.4%)10 (32.3%)
       Academic3 (9.1%)0 (0.0%)
      Smoking status (never/current/former)338/3/22316/6/19
      Lung function
       GOLD stage (I/II/III/IV)318/11/11/1305/15/7/3
       FEV1 (L)311.75±0.76301.69±0.69
       FEV1 (% predicted)3158.5 (44.7–82.5)3060.6 (44.9–71.8)
       FVC (L)313.55±1.03303.49±0.98
       FEV1/FVC (%)3149.0±14.73048.4±14.7
      ACE-R (0–100)3388 (82–93)3188 (83–94)

      Data presented as mean±sd or median (interquartile range) depending on the normality of the distribution of the data, unless otherwise indicated. No parameters were significantly different between the groups. GOLD: Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC: forced vital capacity; ACE-R: Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised.

      • TABLE 3

        Descriptive statistics of the primary (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, CANTAB) outcome measures

        TestMeasureT1T2T3
        InterventionPlaceboInterventionPlaceboInterventionPlacebo
        MOTMean latency (ms)896 (696–1031)894 (761–1056)903 (755–980)865 (736–961)860 (771–940)827 (745–976)
        PALTotal errors (n)13.0 (11.0–20.0)13.0 (8.0–17.0)13.0 (10.0–16.0)13.0 (11.0–17.0)13.0 (9.0–18.0)13.0 (9.0–21.0)
        Adjusted total errors (n)20.0 (12.0–39.0)19.0 (10.0–41.0)14.0 (10.0–42.0)16.0 (11.0–24.0)17.0 (9.0–36.0)14.5 (9.0–21.0)
        First attempt memory score9.76±3.8310.55±4.5610.89±4.3410.56±3.5310.88±3.1712.27±3.06
        SSTStop-signal reaction time (ms)244 (220–272)240 (213–275)258 (240–276)236 (215–262)249 (224–267)223 (208–253)
        RTIMedian simple reaction time (ms)328 (308–349)340 (316–366)331 (311–350)349 (325–365)341 (320–361)361 (338–386)
        Mean simple movement time (ms)253 (216–286)243 (207–302)250 (225–288)264 (229–313)272 (214–303)272 (223–326)
        Median five-choice reaction time (ms)399 (366–429)392 (370–412)399 (366–426)392 (358–425)425 (382–441)419 (379–450)
        Mean five-choice movement time (ms)290 (240–313)283 (245–331)282 (271–339)309 (258–331)272 (239–312)307 (250–336)
        DMSCorrect responses (%)85.0 (80.0–90.0)85.0 (75.0–90.0)90.0 (85.0–95.0)85.0 (75.0–95.0)85.0 (80.0–95.0)85.0 (77.5–92.5)
        Median correct latency (ms)3027 (2494–3370)3294 (2593–3488)3003 (2478–4305)3255 (2475–4342)3295 (2411–4243)3159 (2534–4490)
        Probability of error given error (%)0.0 (0.0–20.0)0.0 (0.0–16.7)0.0 (0.0–0.0)0.0 (0.0–20.0)0.0 (0.0–25.0)0.0 (0.0–21.0)
        SWMBetween-errors (n)16.0 (6.0–21.0)15.0 (6.0–23.0)15.0 (7.0–20.0)17.0 (10.0–20.0)16.0 (9.0–21.0)12.0 (4.0–19.0)
        Between-errors 4 boxes (n)0.0 (0.0–1.0)0.0 (0.0–2.0)0.0 (0.0–0.0)0.0 (0.0–1.0)0.0 (0.0–2.0)0.0 (0.0–0.0)
        Between-errors 6 boxes (n)3.0 (0.0–6.0)4.0 (0.0–7.0)4.0 (1.0–7.0)4.0 (1.0–7.0)2.0 (0.0–7.0)2.0 (0.0–6.0)
        Between-errors 8 boxes (n)11.0 (4.0–15.0)10.0 (5.0–14.0)10.0 (5.0–14.0)11.0 (6.0–14.0)12.0 (8.0–14.0)10.0 (3.0–14.0)
        Strategy8.0 (7.0–10.0)8.0 (6.0–10.0)9.0 (7.0–10.0)9.0 (6.0–10.0)8.0 (6.0–9.0)9.0 (7.0–9.0)

        Data presented as mean±sd or median (inter-quartile range) depending on the normality of the distribution. MOT: motor orientation task; PAL: paired associates learning; SST: stop-signal task; RTI: reaction time task; DMS: delayed match-to-sample; SWM: spatial working memory.

        • TABLE 4

          Effect sizes of the primary (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, CANTAB) outcome measures

          TestMeasurePhase 1Phase 2
          F timeF groupF int.F timeF groupF int.
          MOTMean latency (ms)0.210.350.840.440.090.36
          PALTotal errors (n)1.230.313.794.63*0.350.88
          Adjusted total errors (n)3.791.090.300.680.670.01
          First attempt memory score0.580.451.161.820.672.32
          SSTStop-signal reaction time (ms)0.044.76*0.392.884.41*0.78
          RTIMedian simple reaction time (ms)1.961.300.007.53**2.470.26
          Mean simple movement time (ms)2.610.423.732.961.200.02
          Median five-choice reaction time (ms)0.880.002.479.13**0.770.27
          Mean five-choice movement time (ms)1.100.050.011.000.176.20*
          DMSCorrect responses (%)1.251.120.001.910.990.04
          Median correct latency (ms)2.110.630.110.230.221.31
          Probability of error given error (%)0.130.514.63*0.001.151.06
          SWMBetween-errors (n)0.040.101.910.551.253.54
          Between-errors 4 boxes (n)0.140.520.010.160.142.54
          Between-errors 6 boxes (n)0.100.410.141.281.831.87
          Between-errors 8 boxes (n)0.020.091.920.190.782.65
          Strategy0.400.251.120.100.462.05

          int.: interaction; MOT: motor orientation task; PAL: paired associates learning; SST: stop-signal task; RTI: reaction time task; DMS: delayed match-to-sample; SWM: spatial working memory. All data expressed as F-values. *p<0.05. **p<0.01.

          • TABLE 5

            Descriptive statistics of the secondary outcomes of the intervention

            T1T2T3
            InterventionPlaceboInterventionPlaceboInterventionPlacebo
            Physical capacity and activity
             6MWD (m)456.5±94.1459.0±74.7463.9±88.0452.9±76.3454.4±108.0448.2±86.8
             6MWD (% predicted)73.6±13.972.5±10.974.9±13.871.9±12.573.2±16.771.3±15.2
             SPPB total score (0–12)10.0 (9.0–11.0)11.0 (9.0–12.0)10.0 (9.0–11.0)10.0 (9.0–11.0)11.0 (10.0–12.0)10.0 (9.0–11.0)
             Sedentary time (h·day−1)18.1±1.918.4±1.718.3±1.818.5±1.818.3±1.618.2±1.7
             Standing time (h·day−1)4.2 (2.8–5.3)3.8 (3.0–5.1)4.0 (3.0–5.2)3.7 (3.4–4.6)3.7 (3.2–5.2)4.0 (3.4–5.2)
             Stepping time (h·day−1)1.8 (1.1–2.2)1.6 (1.0–1.8)1.7 (1.1–2.1)1.3 (0.9–1.9)1.5 (1.2–2.2)1.5 (1.1–1.9)
             Sedentary breaks  (number·day−1)31.7 (26.1–40.9)31.5 (25.4–39.6)36.4 (27.6–40.1)34.7 (30.1–38.3)37.1 (29.0–39.7)35.1 (27.9–38.6)
             Sedentary bouts (>30 min)  (number·day−1)35±1231±1338±1232±1534±1433±11
             High-intensity PA8.73 (4.09–20.21)7.74 (4.08–17.86)8.68 (2.29–26.58)9.36 (4.29–16.07)9.13 (3.42–15.64)8.62 (2.75–15.31)
            Dietary quality
             AHEI-201050.0±12.850.0±9.653.7±13.355.9±8.751.0±13.552.1±12.4
            Cognitive stress susceptibility and perception
             AUC (CAR) (arbitrary units)534 (270–609)512 (341–690)459 (264–759)424 (342–630)——
             Delta (SECPT) (μmol·L−1)0.00 (0.00–1.66)0.00 (0.00–2.68)0.00 (0.00–0.06)0.00 (0.00–0.58)0.00 (0.00–2.04)0.00 (0.00–0.72)
             Perceived Stress Scale10.9±5.313.3±6.911.7±4.813.4±5.810.3±5.513.3±6.7
            Healthy lifestyle goal recall
             Content recall (0–4)——0.3 (0.0–1.0)0.3 (0.0–0.5)0.0 (0.0–0.6)0.0 (0.0–0.4)
             Procedure recall (0–2)——1.0 (0.0–2.0)0.0 (0.0–1.3)0.0 (0.0–2.0)0.0 (0.0–2.0)

            All data expressed as mean±SD or median (inter-quartile range) depending on the normality of the distribution of the data. 6MWD: 6-min walk distance; SPPB: Short Physical Performance Battery; PA: physical activity; AHEI: Alternative Healthy Eating Index; AUC: area under the curve; CAR: cortisol awakening response; SECPT: socially evaluated cold pressor test; —: not taken at this time point.

            • TABLE 6

              Effect sizes of the secondary outcomes of the intervention

              MeasurePhase 1Phase 2
              F timeF groupF int.F timeF groupF int.
              Physical capacity and activity
               6MWD (m)0.100.050.611.000.110.20
               6MWD (% predicted)0.250.460.701.230.390.29
               SPPB total score (0–12)0.050.030.000.300.961.48
               Sedentary time (h·day−1)0.001.161.171.242.740.80
               Standing time (h·day−1)0.600.100.070.070.070.10
               Stepping time (h·day−1)0.351.040.030.191.142.01
               Sedentary breaks (number·day−1)9.14**0.430.500.052.170.18
               Sedentary bouts (>30 min) (number·day−1)0.421.290.030.992.210.99
               High-intensity PA2.450.200.120.260.640.11
              Dietary quality
               AHEI-20105.04*0.110.261.870.310.00
              Cognitive stress susceptibility and perception
               AUC (CAR) (arbitrary units)0.020.140.74———
               Delta (SECPT) (μmol·L−1)6.05*0.080.140.931.464.19*
               Perceived Stress Scale0.522.410.102.552.271.05
              Healthy lifestyle goal recall
               Procedure recall (0–4)———0.001.631.02
               Content recall (0–2)———3.162.140.15

              All data expressed as F-values. 6MWD: 6-min walk distance; SPPB: Short Physical Performance Battery; PA: physical activity; AHEI: Alternative Healthy Eating Index; AUC: area under the curve; CAR: cortisol awakening response; SECPT: socially evaluated cold pressor test; —: not taken. *p<0.05. **p<0.01.

              Supplementary Materials

              • Figures
              • Tables
              • Supplementary Material

                Please note: supplementary material is not edited by the Editorial Office, and is uploaded as it has been supplied by the author.

                Figure S1 00475-2021.figureS1

                Figure S2 00475-2021.figureS2

                Figure S3 00475-2021.figureS3

                Figure S4 00475-2021.figureS4

                Supplementary material 00475-2021.supplement

              PreviousNext
              Back to top
              Vol 7 Issue 4 Table of Contents
              ERJ Open Research: 7 (4)
              • Table of Contents
              • Index by author
              Email

              Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on European Respiratory Society .

              NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

              Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
              Working memory training efficacy in COPD: the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Cogtrain trial
              (Your Name) has sent you a message from European Respiratory Society
              (Your Name) thought you would like to see the European Respiratory Society web site.
              CAPTCHA
              This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
              Print
              Citation Tools
              Working memory training efficacy in COPD: the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Cogtrain trial
              Martijn van Beers, Sarah W. Mount, Katrijn Houben, Harry R. Gosker, Lisanne Schuurman, Frits M.E. Franssen, Daisy J.A. Janssen, Annemie M.W.J. Schols
              ERJ Open Research Oct 2021, 7 (4) 00475-2021; DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00475-2021

              Citation Manager Formats

              • BibTeX
              • Bookends
              • EasyBib
              • EndNote (tagged)
              • EndNote 8 (xml)
              • Medlars
              • Mendeley
              • Papers
              • RefWorks Tagged
              • Ref Manager
              • RIS
              • Zotero
              Share
              Working memory training efficacy in COPD: the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Cogtrain trial
              Martijn van Beers, Sarah W. Mount, Katrijn Houben, Harry R. Gosker, Lisanne Schuurman, Frits M.E. Franssen, Daisy J.A. Janssen, Annemie M.W.J. Schols
              ERJ Open Research Oct 2021, 7 (4) 00475-2021; DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00475-2021
              del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Technorati logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Connotea logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
              Full Text (PDF)

              Jump To

              • Article
                • Abstract
                • Abstract
                • Introduction
                • Methods
                • Results
                • Discussion
                • Supplementary material
                • Footnotes
                • References
              • Figures & Data
              • Info & Metrics
              • PDF

              Subjects

              • COPD and smoking
              • Tweet Widget
              • Facebook Like
              • Google Plus One

              More in this TOC Section

              Original research articles

              • CT reveals hypertrophic remodelling of the diaphragm in CF
              • Association of vitamin K with lung function and disease
              • Impact of infections and probiotics on nasal microbiota
              Show more Original research articles

              COPD

              • CT reveals hypertrophic remodelling of the diaphragm in CF
              • Association of vitamin K with lung function and disease
              • Impact of infections and probiotics on nasal microbiota
              Show more COPD

              Related Articles

              Navigate

              • Home
              • Current issue
              • Archive

              About ERJ Open Research

              • Editorial board
              • Journal information
              • Press
              • Permissions and reprints
              • Advertising

              The European Respiratory Society

              • Society home
              • myERS
              • Privacy policy
              • Accessibility

              ERS publications

              • European Respiratory Journal
              • ERJ Open Research
              • European Respiratory Review
              • Breathe
              • ERS books online
              • ERS Bookshop

              Help

              • Feedback

              For authors

              • Instructions for authors
              • Publication ethics and malpractice
              • Submit a manuscript

              For readers

              • Alerts
              • Subjects
              • RSS

              Subscriptions

              • Accessing the ERS publications

              Contact us

              European Respiratory Society
              442 Glossop Road
              Sheffield S10 2PX
              United Kingdom
              Tel: +44 114 2672860
              Email: journals@ersnet.org

              ISSN

              Online ISSN: 2312-0541

              Copyright © 2023 by the European Respiratory Society