Combining Brain Stimulation with Computerized Cognitive Training for MCI

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The proposed K23 Award will support Dr. Stephanie Aghamoosa, PhD in launching an independent program of research developing non-pharmacological interventions for the secondary prevention of dementia. Dr. Aghamoosa is a clinical neuropsychologist whose long-term career goal is to become a federally-funded investigator conducting large-scale clinical trials of non-pharmacological interventions that are clinically scalable, widely applicable to patients, and that produce long-lasting cognitive and functional benefits. Need for this research is significant and consistent with NIA’s Strategic Goal of identifying interventions to delay the progression of cognitive decline. To achieve her career goal, Dr. Aghamoosa proposes to obtain advanced training that builds upon her clinical specializations in health psychology and neuropsychology and foundational research experiences focused on aging, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The proposed K23 training, development, and research activities will address remaining gaps, ensuring that Dr. Aghamoosa has the skills and knowledge necessary to accomplish her Career Development Goals which are to: 1) Become an expert in non-pharmacological interventions to improve cognition in MICI/AD, 2) Obtain advanced training in clinical trial methodology for MCI/AD, 3) Become proficient in advanced statistical techniques for clinical trials that incorporate digital health technology, and 4) Establish herself as an independent NIH-funded investigator. Dr. Aghamoosa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences and Research at the Medical University of South Carolina. She will be supported by an exceptional mentorship team of experts in the areas relevant to her career goals and proposed research project: clinical trials in MCI/AD (Benitez, Primary Mentor), cognitive rehabilitation interventions (Twamley, Co-Primary Mentor), non-invasive brain stimulation (McTeague), longitudinal analysis of clinical trial data (Nietert), and digital health technology for assessment of real-world function (Moore). Dr. Aghamoosa’s K23 research project builds upon her involvement in her Primary Mentor’s ongoing work demonstrating cognitive enhancement from non-invasive intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) in people with MCI. In this K23 application, Dr. Aghamoosa proposes a new and distinct line of work aimed at maximizing treatment outcomes through combining iTBS with computerized cognitive training (CCT). The proposed Phase I clinical trial will randomize 50 people with MCI to iTBS+CCT or iTBS+shamCCT to: Aim 1: Establish the feasibility and acceptability of combining iTBS with CCT in MCI. Aim 2: Determine the preliminary effect sizes of combining iTBS with CCT in MCI. Exploratory Aim: Identify potential mediators and moderators of treatment response. These activities will prepare Dr. Aghamoosa to successfully lead a program of high impact, rigorously designed clinical trials of non-pharmacological interventions for MCI.