Cognitive training and promoting a healthy lifestyle in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder: The randomized controlled trial CogTrAiL‐RBD
Anja Ophey, Sinah Röttgen, Konstantin Kufer, Julia Pauquet, Daniel Scharfenberg, Philipp Armbrust, Anastasia Kammerzell, Nathalie Knopf, Sandy Kollath, Philipp Sommer, Christopher E. J. Doppler, Ezequiel Farrher, Aline Seger, N. Jon Shah, David Zopfs, Kathrin Reetz, Gereon R. Fink, Michael Sommerauer, Elke KalbeAbstract
INTRODUCTION
Isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is a prodromal phase of Lewy body diseases and linked to a high risk for cognitive decline. Therefore, iRBD provides a suitable window for early intervention.
METHODS
In the monocentric randomized controlled trial “ Cog nitive Tr aining & a Healthy, A ct i ve L ifestyle Program for People with Isolated R EM Sleep B ehaviour D isorder” (CogTrAiL‐RBD), the feasibility and behavioral effects of a 5‐week digital, adaptive, multidomain cognitive training alongside a module promoting a healthy lifestyle (INT) were compared to a waiting‐list control group (CON) in 82 individuals with polysomnography‐confirmed iRBD. The primary outcome was change in executive functions at 6 weeks post‐allocation (t1) and at 6‐month follow‐up (t2).
RESULTS
For executive functions, we found positive intervention effects for the INT versus CON with a medium effect at t1 ( d = 0.500, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.221–0.779) and a small effect at t2 ( d = 0.397, 95% CI: 0.115–0.679).
DISCUSSION
CogTrAiL‐RBD provides initial evidence for the feasibility and potential cognitive benefits of cognitive training within a lifestyle‐guidance framework in individuals with iRBD. Its suitability for dementia prevention warrants further investigation.