Brain training after hospital delirium shows promise for older adults
NCT ID NCT04740567
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether early cognitive training and rehabilitation can improve long-term thinking skills in older adults (65+) who experienced delirium during a hospital stay. 283 participants were randomly assigned to receive either the cognitive training program or usual care. The training included daily exercises during hospitalization and weekly sessions for 12 weeks after discharge, focusing on memory, attention, and problem-solving. The main goal was to see if this approach improved global cognition four months later.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cognitive training and rehabilitation (behavioral intervention)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to help older adults recover their thinking skills after a hospital stay with delirium.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single completed study with 283 participants. The results may not apply to everyone, and the benefits might be small or not last long.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Tennessee Valley Healthcare System - Nashville Veteran Affairs Hospital
Nashville, Tennessee, 37027, United States
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37027, United States
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