NCT06281652: Cognichess

Cognitive Intervention With Go and Chess in Early and Subjective Cognitive Decline

Completed NA Last updated 25 March 2026

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Go classes in Mild Cognitive Impairment in 80 participants. Completed in 13 February 2025.

Timeline

13 February 2024

Primary endpoint
13 February 2025

13 February 2025

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Milano Bicocca
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	none
Primary purpose	other
Enrollment	80
Start date	13 February 2024
Primary completion	13 February 2025
Estimated completion	13 February 2025
Sites	1 location across Italy

Drugs / interventions tested

• Go classes
• Chess classes

Conditions studied

• Mild Cognitive Impairment — all drugs for Mild Cognitive Impairment →
• Subjective Cognitive Decline — all drugs for Subjective Cognitive Decline →

Sponsor

University of Milano Bicocca

Who can join

55 and older, any sex, with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Subjective Cognitive Decline. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

The goal of this clinical trial\]is to evaluate if learning to play traditional board games could improve cognition in subjects with mild cognitive impairment and subjective cognitive decline. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Do Go and Chess improve cognition?
* Is a game better than the other? Is the effect of both games on cognition synergistic?
* Do Go and Chess improve quality of life?
* Do Go and Chess improve mood?
* Do Go and Chess improve lifestyle?

Participants will be randomized to one of four groups:

* Group intervention with Go, once a week, for 12 weeks
* Group intervention with Chess, once a week, for 12 weeks
* Group intervention with Go and Chess, twice a week, for 12 weeks
* Control group

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Cognitive and social intervention with Go and chess in early and subjective cognitive decline: The COGniChESs study results, with an updated meta-analysis.
   Pozzi FE, Spanio A, Gallo F, Isgrò G, et al · · 2026 · PMID 41342683 · DOI 10.1177/13872877251401481