ConductCognition

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    1. Verbal Fluency TestGradeA
    2. Stroop Color-Word TestGradeA
    3. Trail Making TestGradeA
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    6. Digit Span TestGradeA
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    8. Verbal Learning TestGradeA
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    • Reaction Time StudyGradeA7 min
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    • Older Adult Executive SpeedGradeA20 min
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    • At-Home MemoryGradeA26 min
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    • Motor and AttentionGradeA−29 min
    • Motor LearningGradeB34 min

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    • Food Choice and Self-ControlGradeA−29 min
    • Sleep and FatigueGradeB23 min
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    Conditions

    Registered studies

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    All 25 conditions
    16,361Registered studies name a cognitive test in an outcome measure11,688 name a test you can run hereExplore the studies
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  1. Home
  2. /Data
  3. /Clinical trials
  4. /Tests
  5. /Trail Making Test

Clinical trials data

Trail Making Test in clinical trials: 2,293 registered studies

Every registered study on ClinicalTrials.gov that names the Trail Making Test in an outcome measure: the conditions it is used in, how often it is a primary outcome, the tests it is named with, and how large the studies are.

Registered studies name it in an outcome measure
2,293
Name it in a primary outcome, 31%
709 of 2,293
Against similar tests
Of studies started 2021 to 2025 name it, against 13.8% in 2016 to 2020
14.3%
By year
Median participants per study
64
By phase
Try Trail Making Test ATry Trail Making Test B

The conditions it is used in

Each study counted once in each condition group it falls in.

  1. Dementia and Alzheimer's273 studies, 83 as a primary outcome

  2. Aging, frailty and exercise255 studies, 83 as a primary outcome

  3. Mild cognitive impairment213 studies, 82 as a primary outcome

  4. Depression and bipolar disorder204 studies, 52 as a primary outcome

  5. Cancer187 studies, 54 as a primary outcome

  6. Stroke156 studies, 39 as a primary outcome

  7. Parkinson's disease156 studies, 38 as a primary outcome

  8. Brain injury and concussion115 studies, 44 as a primary outcome

  9. Cardiovascular disease105 studies, 32 as a primary outcome

  10. Schizophrenia and psychosis102 studies, 18 as a primary outcome

  11. Obesity and diabetes102 studies, 35 as a primary outcome

  12. Pain and fatigue94 studies, 27 as a primary outcome

  13. Sleep and sleep disorders85 studies, 23 as a primary outcome

  14. Cognitive impairment and decline77 studies, 33 as a primary outcome

  15. Anxiety, PTSD and OCD69 studies, 24 as a primary outcome

  16. Delirium, surgery and intensive care69 studies, 34 as a primary outcome

  17. Healthy volunteers68 studies, 31 as a primary outcome

  18. Substance use and addiction52 studies, 15 as a primary outcome

  19. Multiple sclerosis43 studies, 9 as a primary outcome

  20. COVID-19 and long COVID36 studies, 15 as a primary outcome

  21. ADHD24 studies, 8 as a primary outcome

  22. Lung disease18 studies, 7 as a primary outcome

  23. Autism17 studies, 5 as a primary outcome

  24. Hearing loss17 studies, 8 as a primary outcome

  25. Huntington's disease16 studies, 3 as a primary outcome

  26. Epilepsy15 studies, 3 as a primary outcome

  27. Other conditions290 studies, 93 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

How often it is a primary outcome

The Trail Making Test is a primary outcome in 31% of its studies. Across the 40 processing speed and executive function tests with a page here, the median is 39%.

  1. Paced Visual Serial Addition Test42% of 337 studies

  2. Stroop Color-Word Test41% of 1,929 studies

  3. Tower Planning40% of 247 studies

  4. Task Switching Test40% of 334 studies

  5. Dimensional Change Card Sort38% of 214 studies

  6. Verbal Fluency37% of 1,745 studies

  7. Delay Discounting36% of 257 studies

  8. Clock Drawing Task35% of 281 studies

  9. Matrix Reasoning35% of 272 studies

  10. Card Sorting Test (Berg)34% of 411 studies

  11. Symbol Coding31% of 1,457 studies

  12. Trail Making Test31% of 2,293 studies

Studies by start year

14.3% of the registered studies that started in 2021 to 2025 name it, against 13.8% of those that started in 2016 to 2020. 2026 is partly planned starts.
01002002000: 2 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome20002001: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2002: 3 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2003: 8 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome2004: 10 studies, 3 with a test as a primary outcome2005: 14 studies, 6 with a test as a primary outcome20052006: 14 studies, 3 with a test as a primary outcome2007: 21 studies, 4 with a test as a primary outcome2008: 17 studies, 4 with a test as a primary outcome2009: 29 studies, 4 with a test as a primary outcome2010: 32 studies, 11 with a test as a primary outcome20102011: 47 studies, 13 with a test as a primary outcome2012: 44 studies, 10 with a test as a primary outcome2013: 60 studies, 21 with a test as a primary outcome2014: 66 studies, 15 with a test as a primary outcome2015: 85 studies, 30 with a test as a primary outcome20152016: 103 studies, 26 with a test as a primary outcome2017: 122 studies, 36 with a test as a primary outcome2018: 117 studies, 43 with a test as a primary outcome2019: 155 studies, 48 with a test as a primary outcome2020: 122 studies, 50 with a test as a primary outcome20202021: 172 studies, 56 with a test as a primary outcome2022: 188 studies, 50 with a test as a primary outcome2023: 228 studies, 72 with a test as a primary outcome2024: 211 studies, 73 with a test as a primary outcome2025: 210 studies, 60 with a test as a primary outcome20252026: 201 studies, 65 with a test as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

Show as a table
Registered studies by start year
Start yearStudiesA test as a primary outcome
200021
200100
200230
200382
2004103
2005146
2006143
2007214
2008174
2009294
20103211
20114713
20124410
20136021
20146615
20158530
201610326
201712236
201811743
201915548
202012250
202117256
202218850
202322872
202421173
202521060
202620165

Phases and study sizes

By phase

  • Early phase 121 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 132 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 1/231 studies, 6 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 2216 studies, 45 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 2/316 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 387 studies, 13 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 484 studies, 19 as a primary outcome
  • Not applicable1,478 studies, 481 as a primary outcome
  • Observational328 studies, 134 as a primary outcome

Participants per study

102050100200500
  • Early phase 120 median, 13 to 62
  • Phase 123 median, 16 to 40
  • Phase 1/240 median, 15 to 57
  • Phase 260 median, 38 to 100
  • Phase 2/368 median, 42 to 136
  • Phase 3209 median, 97 to 426
  • Phase 496 median, 41 to 219
  • Not applicable60 median, 32 to 108
  • Observational100 median, 50 to 207
Participants per study. The bar spans the middle half of the studies in each phase, the mark is the median, and the axis is logarithmic. Phases with fewer than 10 studies that give a size are left out.
Show as a table
Participants per study that names the Trail Making Test, by phase
PhaseStudies with a sizeMedianMiddle half
Early phase 1192013 to 62
Phase 1282316 to 40
Phase 1/2314015 to 57
Phase 22076038 to 100
Phase 2/3166842 to 136
Phase 38420997 to 426
Phase 4829641 to 219
Not applicable1,4606032 to 108
Observational32310050 to 207

When trials measure it

Half of the primary outcomes that name the Trail Making Test are measured within 12 weeks of the start, and the middle half from 4 weeks to 6 months. 659 primary outcomes give a duration.

Latest time point of each outcome

  • Within a day236 outcomes, 85 as a primary outcome
  • Up to 4 weeks345 outcomes, 103 as a primary outcome
  • 1 to 3 months660 outcomes, 226 as a primary outcome
  • 3 to 6 months399 outcomes, 105 as a primary outcome
  • 6 to 12 months317 outcomes, 80 as a primary outcome
  • 1 to 2 years113 outcomes, 35 as a primary outcome
  • Over 2 years97 outcomes, 25 as a primary outcome
  • No duration given126 outcomes, 50 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

2,167 of the 2,293 outcome measures give a duration. A single visit counts as within a day.

Status, results, interventions and countries

Status

  • Recruiting462 studies, 123 as a primary outcome
  • Not yet recruiting125 studies, 44 as a primary outcome
  • Active, not recruiting96 studies, 28 as a primary outcome
  • Completed1,050 studies, 360 as a primary outcome
  • Stopped early157 studies, 38 as a primary outcome
  • Status unknown403 studies, 116 as a primary outcome

What they test

  • Behavioral628 studies, 210 as a primary outcome
  • Drug449 studies, 94 as a primary outcome
  • Device401 studies, 84 as a primary outcome
  • Dietary supplement143 studies, 50 as a primary outcome
  • Procedure94 studies, 27 as a primary outcome
  • Diagnostic test54 studies, 22 as a primary outcome
  • Biological25 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Radiation58 studies, 15 as a primary outcome
  • Combination product12 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Genetic6 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Other676 studies, 240 as a primary outcome
  • None given139 studies, 60 as a primary outcome

Intervention types as registered. A study can list several; observational studies often list none.

Where their sites are

  • United States728 studies, 238 as a primary outcome
  • Canada164 studies, 28 as a primary outcome
  • France157 studies, 23 as a primary outcome
  • Spain152 studies, 59 as a primary outcome
  • China148 studies, 37 as a primary outcome
  • Italy115 studies, 33 as a primary outcome
  • Germany86 studies, 11 as a primary outcome
  • Taiwan67 studies, 33 as a primary outcome
  • United Kingdom65 studies, 12 as a primary outcome
  • Switzerland60 studies, 8 as a primary outcome
  • Netherlands58 studies, 10 as a primary outcome
  • Brazil52 studies, 15 as a primary outcome

71 countries in all. A study with sites in several counts in each; 139 list no site.

Reported results

Completed studies with results posted on ClinicalTrials.gov, a results paper the registry links to the study, or both.

Completed studies that name the Trail Making Test: 496 of 1,050, 47%

Every completed study with a cognitive outcome: 3,626 of 7,953, 46%

Completed studies that name the Trail Making Test and every completed study, by how they reported results
ResultsCompleted studies that name the Trail Making TestEvery completed study
Results on ClinicalTrials.gov and a paper100, 10%776, 10%
Results on ClinicalTrials.gov only127, 12%1,139, 14%
A results paper only269, 26%1,711, 22%
Neither554, 53%4,327, 54%

Tests named in the same studies

The library tests that studies naming the Trail Making Test name most often beside it.
  1. 1

    Verbal Fluency728 studies, 248 as a primary outcome

  2. 2

    Verbal Learning714 studies, 272 as a primary outcome

  3. 3

    Digit Span Test692 studies, 240 as a primary outcome

  4. 4

    Stroop Color-Word Test688 studies, 258 as a primary outcome

  5. 5

    Symbol Coding432 studies, 153 as a primary outcome

  6. 6

    Category Fluency285 studies, 116 as a primary outcome

  7. 7

    Picture Naming Test189 studies, 69 as a primary outcome

  8. 8

    Task Switching Test180 studies, 62 as a primary outcome

  9. 9

    Complex Figure Copy and Recall153 studies, 59 as a primary outcome

  10. 10

    Card Sorting Test (Berg)139 studies, 45 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

Compared over time

Studies per start year for the Trail Making Test and the tests named with it most. Add or remove tests to compare.
Trail Making Test2,281 studies, 2000 to 2026
01252502000201020202026
Verbal Fluency1,737 studies, 2000 to 2026
01252502000201020202026
Verbal Learning1,819 studies, 2000 to 2026
01252502000201020202026
Digit Span Test1,619 studies, 2000 to 2026
01252502000201020202026

The panel's testThe other tests chosenEvery panel has the same scale. 2026 is partly planned starts.

Show as a table
Registered studies per start year that name each test
Start yearTrail Making TestVerbal FluencyVerbal LearningDigit Span Test
20002113
20010152
20023381
200384144
2004109144
20051419177
2006149134
200721222214
200817182819
200929292822
201032294237
201147363326
201244344236
201360585344
201466598249
201585799179
2016103859869
20171229310782
20181171079285
2019155121122110
2020122907690
2021172131137122
2022188123138121
2023228147157164
2024211130144141
2025210167132147
2026201133123137

Explore the 2,293 studies

Filter by condition, phase, sponsor, status, country, intervention, outcome list, size and start year. Each study links to its record on ClinicalTrials.gov.
TestThe Trail Making Test

2,293 studies match. 709 name the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome. Median size 64 participants. Median time to the primary outcome: 12 weeks.

Loading 2,293 studies; the filters turn on when they arrive.

By start year
01002003002000: 2 studies, 1 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome20002001: 0 studies, 0 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2002: 3 studies, 0 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2003: 8 studies, 2 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2004: 10 studies, 3 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2005: 14 studies, 6 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome20052006: 14 studies, 3 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2007: 21 studies, 4 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2008: 17 studies, 4 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2009: 29 studies, 4 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2010: 32 studies, 11 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome20102011: 47 studies, 13 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2012: 44 studies, 10 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2013: 60 studies, 21 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2014: 66 studies, 15 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2015: 85 studies, 30 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome20152016: 103 studies, 26 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2017: 122 studies, 36 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2018: 117 studies, 43 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2019: 155 studies, 48 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2020: 122 studies, 50 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome20202021: 172 studies, 56 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2022: 188 studies, 50 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2023: 228 studies, 72 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2024: 211 studies, 73 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome2025: 210 studies, 60 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome20252026: 201 studies, 65 naming the Trail Making Test in a primary outcome

2026 is partly planned starts. Not shown: 2 that started before 2000, 8 planned to start after 2026 and 2 with no start year.

Show as a table
Matching studies by start year
Start yearStudiesAs a primary outcome
200021
200100
200230
200382
2004103
2005146
2006143
2007214
2008174
2009294
20103211
20114713
20124410
20136021
20146615
20158530
201610326
201712236
201811743
201915548
202012250
202117256
202218850
202322872
202421173
202521060
202620165

Library tests named most

  • Trail Making Test2,293 studies, 709 as a primary outcome
  • Verbal Fluency728 studies, 248 as a primary outcome
  • Verbal Learning714 studies, 272 as a primary outcome
  • Digit Span Test692 studies, 240 as a primary outcome
  • Stroop Color-Word Test688 studies, 258 as a primary outcome
  • Symbol Coding432 studies, 153 as a primary outcome
  • Category Fluency285 studies, 116 as a primary outcome
  • Picture Naming Test189 studies, 69 as a primary outcome
  • Task Switching Test180 studies, 62 as a primary outcome
  • Complex Figure Copy and Recall153 studies, 59 as a primary outcome

Largest condition groups

Phases

Participants

Lead sponsor: industry 141, NIH 5, other 2,147. Interventional 1,965, observational 328.

As a primary outcomeSecondary or other outcomeThe Trail Making Test

The studies, newest registration first

Each number opens the study's record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Registered studies that match the filters, newest registration first, with the library tests each one names and the outcome list that names them.
StudyStartPhaseConditionsParticipantsLead sponsorStatusLibrary tests named, with the latest time point
NCT07908147Start2027PhaseEarly phase 1ConditionsCancerParticipants12Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary5 years
  • Verbal LearningSecondary5 years
  • Verbal FluencySecondary5 years
  • Digit Span TestSecondary5 years
NCT07907718Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsParkinson's diseaseParticipants50Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary8 weeks
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary8 weeks
  • Go/No-Go TaskPrimary8 weeks
NCT07906847Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsPain and fatigueParticipants80Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary
  • Digit Span TestPrimary
NCT07902206Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsAging, frailty and exercise, Huntington's diseaseParticipants88Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary6 months
  • Symbol CodingSecondary6 months
NCT07899242Start2025PhaseNot applicableConditionsOther conditionsParticipants242Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary5 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary5 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary5 months
NCT07897474Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsSleep and sleep disordersParticipants100Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary
  • Digit Span TestPrimary
  • Symbol CodingPrimary
  • Psychomotor Vigilance TaskPrimary
NCT07891650Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsCognitive impairment and declineParticipants160Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
NCT07883148Start2024PhaseNot applicableConditionsDementia and Alzheimer's, Mild cognitive impairmentParticipants52Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary8 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary8 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary8 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary8 months
  • Complex Figure Copy and RecallSecondary8 months
NCT07882875Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsStroke, Cardiovascular diseaseParticipants560Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary2 years
NCT07882706Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsOther conditionsParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary12 weeks
NCT07882433Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsSleep and sleep disordersParticipants50Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
  • Paced Visual Serial Addition TestSecondary6 months
NCT07881029Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsCOVID-19 and long COVIDParticipants55Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary6 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary6 months
NCT07879703Start2018PhaseNot applicableConditionsHealthy volunteersParticipants120Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompleted

Paper

Library tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary16 weeks
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary16 weeks
NCT07870291Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsObesity and diabetesParticipants105Lead sponsorOtherStatusActive, not recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary12 weeks
  • Symbol CodingPrimary12 weeks
NCT07869745Start2027PhaseNot applicableConditionsHearing lossParticipants76Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary6 months
  • Digit Span TestPrimary6 months
NCT07868653Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsOther conditionsParticipants80Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary13 weeks
  • Digit Span TestPrimary13 weeks
  • Eriksen Flanker TaskPrimary13 weeks
  • Task Switching TestSecondary13 weeks
NCT07867886Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsCancerParticipants30Lead sponsorIndustryStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary6 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary6 months
NCT07865260Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsMild cognitive impairment, Stroke, Parkinson's diseaseParticipants80Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary8 weeks
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary8 weeks
  • Corsi Block-Tapping TestSecondary8 weeks
NCT07856043Start2026PhasePhase 1ConditionsDementia and Alzheimer's, Mild cognitive impairment, Cardiovascular diseaseParticipants18Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary12 weeks
  • Symbol CodingSecondary12 weeks
  • Selective Reminding TaskSecondary12 weeks
NCT07851896Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsPain and fatigueParticipants40Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary12 weeks
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary12 weeks
NCT07845409Start2027PhaseNot applicableConditionsDepression and bipolar disorderParticipants138Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary10 weeks
  • Go/No-Go TaskPrimary10 weeks
  • Continuous Performance TestPrimary10 weeks
  • AX Continuous Performance TestPrimary10 weeks
  • Monetary Incentive DelayPrimary10 weeks
  • Affective Go/No-GoPrimary10 weeks
NCT07842302Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsMultiple sclerosis, Pain and fatigueParticipants80Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary6 months
  • Symbol CodingPrimary6 months
  • Paced Visual Serial Addition TestSecondary6 months
  • Selective Reminding TaskSecondary6 months
NCT07841145Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsDementia and Alzheimer's, Aging, frailty and exerciseParticipants68Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary13 weeks
  • Verbal FluencySecondary13 weeks
NCT07839650Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsDementia and Alzheimer'sParticipants30Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary6 months
  • Verbal LearningPrimary6 months
  • Category FluencyPrimary6 months
  • Task Switching TestPrimary6 months
  • Face-name Memory TaskPrimary6 months
NCT07834775Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsOther conditionsParticipants70Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary4 weeks
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary4 weeks
  • N-Back TaskSecondary4 weeks

Page 1 of 92

Questions, answered from the data

How many clinical trials use the Trail Making Test?

2,293 registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov name it in an outcome measure, 709 of them in a primary outcome.

In which conditions do trials use the Trail Making Test?

Most often in dementia and Alzheimer's disease (273), aging, frailty and exercise (255) and mild cognitive impairment (213).

Do new trials use the Trail Making Test more or less?

14.3% of the studies that started in 2021 to 2025 name it, against 13.8% of those that started in 2016 to 2020: a share 3% larger.

Which tests do trials use with the Trail Making Test?

Verbal Fluency (728 studies), Verbal Learning (714 studies) and the Digit Span Test (692 studies).

How many participants do phase 2 trials that use the Trail Making Test enroll?

Half of the phase 2 studies that name it enroll 60 participants or fewer, and the middle half enroll 38 to 100. 207 of them give a size.

When do trials measure the Trail Making Test?

Half of the primary outcomes that name the Trail Making Test are measured within 12 weeks of the start, and the middle half from 4 weeks to 6 months. 659 primary outcomes give a duration.

How many completed trials that use the Trail Making Test have reported results?

496 of the 1,050 completed studies that name it, 47%, have reported results: 227 posted them on ClinicalTrials.gov, 369 have a results paper linked to the registry record, and 100 did both. The other 554 show neither. Of all completed studies with a cognitive outcome, 46% have reported results.

More on tests in clinical trials

  • Trail Making Test A: what it measures, its scores, and a version to try
  • Trail Making Test B: what it measures, its scores, and a version to try
  • All 101 tests in clinical trials
  • Cognitive tests by condition
  • Every registered study, by test, condition, phase and year

How the studies are counted

For each test family, the census runs ClinicalTrials.gov's own outcome search for the family's names and reads every study first posted by the day the family was counted. These studies were read on 10 November 2026. A study counts once on a page, however many tests it names. Counts for a test cover every version of the task under any of its names, so a page can count studies that used a commercial version.

The census adds two things to each record and changes nothing in it: which outcome list names the test (primary, then secondary, then other), and the condition groups, matched on the study's condition names and MeSH terms. A study can fall in several groups; one whose only condition is cognitive impairment or decline falls in “Cognitive impairment and decline”. Studies that name only instruments outside the library count in every total and share but are not listed.

A second read on 10 November 2026 added each study's overall status, whether results are posted, its intervention types, the countries of its sites and the time frame of the outcome that names each test. A time frame counts by the latest time point it names: “Baseline, 12 and 24 weeks” is 24 weeks, a single visit is within a day, and one that names no duration, such as “end of treatment”, is left out of the timings.

A third read on 10 November 2026 added the papers the registry links to each study: those its sponsor lists as reporting results, and those PubMed links to it through the study's NCT number. A study has a results paper when one of them came out in or after the month of its primary completion and PubMed does not class it as a protocol, review or comment. A paper that never gives the NCT number is not linked, so some studies counted as reporting neither did publish.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, which does not endorse these pages. Every study line is in the data release 2.1.0, and the explorer's own file is clinical-trials-studies.json.

The census counts Trail Making Test A and Trail Making Test B as one test family, so this page counts their studies together: 2,293 studies.

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