View clinical trials related to Cognitive Dysfunction.
Filter by:Tremendous progress has been made in characterizing the interactions between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. This concept of a gut-brain axis suggests that influencing bacteria in the gut is a promising approach for developing new ways of benefiting brain function. This is particularly relevant for an ageing population for which cognitive decline is a common symptom and can be an indicator for the development of neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia. There is good evidence already that nutrition can delay the development of cognitive decline in ageing, in particular for ageing-sensitive brain regions such as the medial temporal lobe, however this has been little explored for cranberry intake. Cranberries are high in plant-derived nutrients called polyphenols, which have been suggested to promote brain function and protect against disease-causing mechanisms. In the proposed project we will pioneer work to investigate the impact of cranberry intake on gut bacteria and how it relates to cognitive performance in ageing and associated regions in the brain. This study is being conducted by Chief Investigators Dr David Vauzour and Prof Michael Hornberger at the University of East Anglia. Sixty participants (i.e. n=30 control and treatment groups) aged 50-80 years old, with no memory complaints will be recruited for this 12-week double-blind placebo-controlled parallel intervention of cranberry flavonoids. Freeze-dried cranberry or a matched placebo will be taken twice daily for the duration of the trial. Blood, urine and faecal samples will be collected for microbiome, DNA, biochemical and nutritional analysis. Participants will also undergo cognitive testing, as well as MRI scanning to detect changes in brain physiology.
Presently, the role of either genetic factors or biological sex in the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is unknown. There is a critical need to determine which individuals are at high-risk for developing POCD by virtue of biological sex or genetic predisposition. The knowledge gained in the described research has the potential to shed light on mechanistic pathways, a necessary next step in order to ultimately identify therapeutic strategies.
This longitudinal study aims to countervail age-related cognitive and cerebral decline in healthy retired people through intensive piano / keyboard music practice in Switzerland and Germany.
The purpose of this study is to measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clearance. CSF cushions the brain from impact and carries waste products from the brain to the bloodstream. This process is known as clearance. Researchers have considered that impaired clearance of amyloid (a protein) from the aging brain causes buildup of amyloid in the brain and plays a role in increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. However, until recently, there has not been a method to measure CSF clearance. This study will examine CSF clearance using positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, which creates images of structures in the body and their functioning. This study will also measure the amount of two proteins, tau and amyloid, in the brain. Tau and amyloid are proteins that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. An investigational compound (tracer) called [18F]MK-6240 is injected into the blood prior to the scan in order to take images of the CSF clearance and measure tau protein in the brain. This tracer is considered investigational because it is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use and is only being used for research purposes.
This is an observational study with the aim of validating, in a consistent population sample, with appropriate follow-up, whether EEG connectivity analysis combined with the neuropsychological evaluation and ApoE genotype testing in aMCI could be of help in early identification of converted aMCI as a first-line screening method in order to intercept early those subjects with a high risk for rapid progression to AD.
The aim of the current research is to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to improve cognitive function in individuals with anxiety, depression and/or cognitive complaints.
This multicentre randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of an intervention consisting of a TV-based Assistive Integrated Service developed to improve the quality of life in older people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia (PMCI/MD) and their informal caregivers. This study is a collaboration between four European countries (Spain, Romania, Italy and Switzerland) and the clinical trials will be conducted in two of these countries (Spain and Romania) In total 240 dyads, consisting of a person with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and their informal caregiver will be recruited for this study. Participant dyads will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio in two parallel groups: to receive either usual care from primary or specialized providers (control group) or to receive usual care plus access to a device with the Tv-AssistDem platform (intervention group). Participants in the trial will be assessed for a period of 12 months. After the baseline visit, all participants will have follow-up visits every 6 months together with a checkup of the PMCI/MD capacity to remain in the study. In the follow up visits, investigators will assess the PMCI/MD quality of life, caregiver's quality of life and burden, patient treatment adherence, patient functional status and service utilization. A user-behaviour analysis and usability evaluation will also be performed.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used for the modulation of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients' cognitive function by altering the cortical excitability. Recently, more challenging approaches, such as stimulation of two or more sites or use of dual modality have been studied in MCI patients. In this study, simultaneous stimulation using both facilitatory rTMS (10Hz) and anodal or cathodal tDCS (dual-mode stimulation) over bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFCs) was investigated to compare its modulatory effects with single facilitatory rTMS stimulation in mild cognitive impairment patients.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used for the modulation of post-stroke cognitive impairment patients' cognitive function by altering the cortical excitability. Recently, more challenging approaches, such as stimulation of two or more sites or use of dual modality have been studied in stroke patients. In this study, simultaneous stimulation using both facilitatory rTMS (10Hz) and anodal or cathodal tDCS (dual-mode stimulation) over bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFCs) was investigated to compare its modulatory effects with single facilitatory rTMS stimulation in post-stroke cognitive impairment patients.
The incidence of postoperative cognitive injury is high in elderly patients, especially after major surgery. The relevant pathophysiological mechanisms are still unclear, and the possible mechanisms that have been proposed so far include inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalance and metabolic disorders. In recent years, clinical studies of acute brain dysfunction after vascular endothelial injury have attracted attention. Degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx layer and subsequent shedding of its constituents is seen as an early marker of endothelial injury, and may increase vascular permeability.Many preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated an association between inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 and glycocalyx degradation biomarkers. The scholars found evidence of plasma endothelial injury after abdominal open surgery in the elderly. Dexmedetomidine could attenuate stress response such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Based on the above evidence, we hypothesize that elderly patients experience inflammatory response secondary to surgical traumatic stress after major surgery, greatly increasing the degree of endothelial injury (heparan sulphate and syndecan-1), reducing brain perfusion while increasing Blood-brain barrier permeability (S100B level), promoting the release of cytokines Interleukin-2(IL-2), Interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) ,and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) while reducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) synthesis, then leading to postoperative acute spasm. We would test the hypothesis that can reverse these effects and improve cognitive deficits.