Neurofeedback in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer Disease Clinical Trial

Official title: Neurofeedback in Alzheimer's Disease

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will evaluate behavioral and electrophysiological changes in a sample of adults with possible or probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), before and after undergoing training using a brain-computer interface (BCI) system with neurofeedback based on electroencephalography (EEG). Participants will repeatedly complete a letter viewing task and receive visual and auditory cues about their brainwaves. The study team hypothesizes that exposure to this EEG-based biofeedback intervention (neurofeedback) will result in a reduction of theta activity (brainwaves in the range of 4-8 Hz). The study team also predicts that exposure to the neurofeedback intervention will result in increased performance on reading, attention, and working memory tasks.

Clinical Trial Description

This study is a single case research design (SCRD) that will enroll adults with possible or probable AD. Participants will complete a 9 to 13 week testing schedule to deliver a BCI EEG-based neurofeedback intervention. All study visits will occur at participants' place of residence.

Prospective participants will schedule an introductory consent/screening visit with the research team. All participants with AD will be required to enroll with a "study partner" (authorized representative or caretaker) to assist with scheduling and adherence as they progress through the study. Participants who pass screening criteria will continue to participate in the study.

Eligible participants will complete between 3 and 7 weekly baseline assessments, beginning approximately 1 week after the screening visit. In accordance with SCRD standards, performance on outcome measures will be actively monitored during the baseline period. The intervention portion of the study will be triggered sometime during the 3-7 week baseline testing window, once participant performance on the primary outcomes is determined to be stable by the study team.

Following baseline testing, participants will begin a 6-week intervention period with 3 BCI EEG-based neurofeedback sessions per week. A single follow-up visit will be completed approximately one month after the final intervention visit.

Because of the inclusion of adults with decisional impairments in this study, participants with AD will be required to enroll with an accompanying "study partner" (e.g., spouse, caregiver or authorized representative), who will be required to attend all testing visits with the participant and assist with scheduling and adherence. Study partners will be formally enrolled and asked to complete a brief set of questionnaires (e.g., details about the primary participant and their interactions with the primary participant), but they will not receive other testing or intervention materials directly. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Alzheimer Disease

• NCT number: NCT03790774
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Oregon Health and Science University
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 6, 2019
• Completion date: August 1, 2020