Austrian Polyintervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Decline After Ischemic Stroke (ASPIS)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01109836 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : April 23, 2010
Last Update Posted : January 13, 2015
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Ischemic Stroke Cognitive Decline Dementia | Behavioral: Motivation and lifestyle intervention | Phase 4 |
Stroke is the second most frequent cause of death and cognitive deficits including dementia occur frequently following a stroke. The frequency of cognitive disturbances has been reported up to 30% and thus occurs three times more frequent than recurrent stroke (10%). Major attempts have been made to prevent the occurrence of new strokes by means of effective strategies including preventive drugs. In contrast, hardly any studies have been performed addressing the prevention of deteriorating cognitive function following a stroke. In spite of this high prevalence therapeutic possibilities are extremely limited. It must be expected that cognitive deficits become even a more frequent disability following stroke. This is caused by the increased aging of the population leading to further increase of incidence, furthermore that more people survive their acute stroke due to increased possibilities of acute treatment, and that frequent risk factors (e.g. hypertension, diabetes) are increasingly controlled, thus leading to less severe strokes with less severe and permanent motor deficits, but an increase of potentially disabling cognitive disturbances. The aim of this randomized controlled study is to test an intensive multiple intervention therapy for the first time in stroke and to add life style modifications targeting modifiable risk factors for cognitive deterioration.
It is hypothesized that the risk of post-stroke cognitive decline can be significantly reduced compared to a control group with standard care when using polyintervention. These interventions will focus on nutrition, exercise, cognitive and social activity and monitoring and management of metabolic and vascular risk factors. Regular contacts with the subjects shall increase motivation and adherence to the study protocol.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 202 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Prevention |
Official Title: | ASPIS-Austrian Polyintervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Decline After Ischemic Stroke |
Study Start Date : | June 2010 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | November 2014 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | November 2014 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Motivation and lifestyle intervention
Intensive control and motivation for better compliance with medication, regular blood pressure measurements, diet changes and physical activity.
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Behavioral: Motivation and lifestyle intervention
Intensive control and motivation for better compliance with medication, regular blood pressure measurements, diet changes and physical activity. |
No Intervention: Control
Standard stroke care
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- Number of persons having cognitively declined at 24 months [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]Cognitive decline is defined as a significant decline in the composite scores of at least 2 of 5 neuropsychologically tested domains (speed of mental processing, executive functions, working memory, memory, spatial constructive functions). The alpha level for the decision is 0.05.
- Cognitive decline measured on the Cognitive Subscale of the Alzheimer's disease assessment scale (ADAS-cog) at 24 months [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]Difference between the measures at baseline and at 24 months on the Cognitive Subscale of the Alzheimer's disease assessment scale (ADAS-cog).
- Number of persons having cognitively declined 12 months after randomization [ Time Frame: 12 months after randomization ]Cognitive decline is defined as a significant decline in the composite scores of at least 2 of 5 neuropsychologically tested domains (speed of mental processing, executive functions, working memory, memory, spatial constructive functions). The alpha level for the decision is 0.05.
- Cognitive decline on the Cognitive Subscale of the Alzheimer's disease assessment scale (ADAS-cog) at 12 months [ Time Frame: 12 months after randomization ]Difference between the measures at baseline and at 12 months on the Cognitive Subscale of the Alzheimer's disease assessment scale (ADAS-cog).
- Cognitive impairment on the Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) scale at 12 months [ Time Frame: 12 months after randomization ]
- Cognitive impairment on the Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) scale at 24 months [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]
- Change in cognitive abilities measured by composite scores for each of 5 cognitive domains [ Time Frame: 12 months after randomization ]For each of the five cognitive domains (executive functions, working memory, general memory, speed of cognitive processing, visual spatial ability) standardized composite scores are calculated from the differences between baseline and 12 months in individual neuropsychological test results.
- Composite outcome for vascular events [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]vascular events include recurrent stroke, ACS, bypass surgery, PTA and vascular death
- Neurological status on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score [ Time Frame: 12 months after randomization ]
- Functional status on the modified Rankin Scale [ Time Frame: 12 months after randomization ]
- Activities of daily living on Barthel Index [ Time Frame: 12 months after randomization ]
- Quality of life on the EQ-5D [ Time Frame: 12 months after randomization ]
- Depression on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) [ Time Frame: 12 months after randomization ]
- All cause mortality [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]
- Change in cognitive abilities measured by composite scores for each of 5 cognitive domains [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]For each of the five cognitive domains (executive functions, working memory, general memory, speed of cognitive processing, visual spatial ability) standardized composite scores are calculated from the differences between baseline and 24 months in individual neuropsychological test results.
- Neurological status on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)score [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]
- Functional status on the modified Rankin Scale [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]
- Activities of daily living on Barthel Index [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]
- Quality of life on the EQ-5D [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]
- Depression on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) [ Time Frame: 24 months after randomization ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 40 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Symptomatic ischemic stroke with clinical syndrome of stroke and a corresponding ischemic lesion.
- MRI or CT results compatible with clinical diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke
- NIH Stroke Scale Score on admission 1 to 14, both inclusive
- Modified Rankin Scale before stroke 0 to 2, inclusive
- Randomization within 3 months after stroke onset (goal: 80% within 3 weeks)
- Sufficient communication possible
- Informed consent given by the patient and/or the patient's legally acceptable representative
Exclusion Criteria:
- Substantial cognitive decline (Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score > 24) or pre-existing dementia or Parkinson disease
- Persistent disturbed level of consciousness
- Persistent aphasia
- Pre-existing significant psychiatric diseases (i.e. Schizophrenia, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorders, all according to DSMIV); Patients with minor Depression (DSM IV) can be included
- Severe sensory impairment making neuropsychological testing impossible
- Severe comorbidity (e.g. unstable or severe cardiovascular or pulmonal disease, neoplasm, severe liver or renal insufficiency and symptomatic stenosis of the ipsilateral carotid artery, cancer…)
- Unreliability for follow up
- Unwillingness or inability to participate or to sign the informed consent

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01109836
Austria | |
Dept of Neurology Landesklinikum Waldviertel Horn / Allentsteig | |
Horn, Austria, 3580 | |
Dept of Neurology, Landesklinikum Mostviertel Amstetten-Mauer | |
Mauer bei Amstetten, Austria, 3362 | |
Dept. Neurology, LK St.Pölten | |
St. Pölten, Austria, 3100 | |
Dept of Neurology, Landesklinikum Donauregion Tulln | |
Tulln, Austria, A-3430 | |
Dept of Neurology, Landesklinikum Wr. Neustadt | |
Wr. Neustadt, Austria, A-2700 |
Principal Investigator: | Michael Brainin, Prof. MD | Danube University Krems |
Responsible Party: | Prim. Univ. Prof. Dr. Michael Brainin, Danube University Krems |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01109836 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
DUK-2010-001 LS 09-002 ( Other Grant/Funding Number: Life Science Krems ) |
First Posted: | April 23, 2010 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 13, 2015 |
Last Verified: | June 2010 |
prevention cognitive decline post-stroke dementia life-style intervention |
vascular risk factors polyintervention multifactorial treatment |
Stroke Dementia Ischemic Stroke Cerebral Infarction Ischemia Cognitive Dysfunction Cerebrovascular Disorders Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases |
Vascular Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Pathologic Processes Neurocognitive Disorders Mental Disorders Brain Infarction Brain Ischemia Infarction Necrosis Cognition Disorders |