View clinical trials related to Dementia.
Filter by:The improvement in health and welfare in modern society has led to an increase in life expectancy. Alternatively, the longer one lives, the more likely to experience deterioration in memory, cognitive ability, and executive function skills in our brains. While some cognitive impairments can be typical results of normal aging, a decline in spatial cognition can be a sign of dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD). Based on the neuroplasticity of the brain even at old ages, there are some hopes to combat dementia by repeated use of cognitive exercises in the form of a serious game designed for older adults. A popular new technology to be used to design serious games is virtual reality (VR) designs. Aside from the gaming applications, the focus of VR experiments in medicine and neuroscience is to simulate a naturalistic environment to investigate brain function and/or use it for cognitive training. A virtual reality driving simulator (VRDS) has been developed by our team that is proposed to be installed in an existing car model at Riverview Health Center (RHC) dementia units. The VRDS has different levels of difficulty so that it can be utilized by people with different levels of cognitive impairments. However, in this study, the users will probably use only its level 1. The aim is to investigate the efficacy of the VRDS amongst institutionalized Alzheimer's/dementia patients, who are not capable of performing standard assessments. The goal is mainly to improve their mood and quality of life as many of these patients miss driving. Thus, their plausible mood change are assessed by asking the dementia unit nurses to share their observations of the patients in relation to VRDS usage; it will be a free-format anecdotal observation. In addition, while these patients are not expected to show any significant learning, playing this VRDS may improve patients' implicit memory; which can be observed by how well or poor they drive the simulated car; for example, how many times they crash to the curb or how many times they hit an animal, or how many times they ignore the red traffic light, etc.; these are reflected in the game's score. It is anticipated that this VRDS will have an overall positive effect on users' moods, and also it may result in an implicit memory improvement.
The National Institute on Aging together with the Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) recently proposed the ATN classification which is based upon the pathological processes present in Alzheimer's disease (amyloid, tau and neurodegeneration). The amyloid and tau status can be defined using cerebrospinal fluid analysis but also non-invasively using an amyloid or tau PET scan. The N status can be defined using an [18F]-FDG PET scan which is in Belgium part of standard of care. Recently, it has been demonstrated, using different amyloid PET tracers, that early-frame amyloid scans can be a surrogate for [18F]-FDG PET scan.
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a screening test for detecting cognitive impairment that assesses several cognitive domains (attention and concentration, arithmetic and orientation, memory, etc.). The instructions as well as some test items of the MoCA are presented auditory (spoken). Consequently, performance on the MoCA may be co-dependent on hearing. Therefore, to rule out the possible negative influence of hearing loss on performance on the MoCA, a MoCA for individuals with hearing loss was recently developed. More specifically, the original MoCA was modified by providing the instructions audiovisually (spoken with visual support) as well as by replacing hearing-dependent items. Since replacing items may affect sensitivity and specificity, the MoCA for persons with hearing loss should be revalidated.
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is the second most common form of degenerative dementia, affecting at least 2.4 million US adults, and the overwhelming majority of persons living with LBD (PLBD) are cared for by family caregivers. LBD caregiver strain: 1) exceeds that of non-LBD dementia caregivers; 2) worsens caregiver physical and mental health; and 3) increases the risk of PLBD hospitalization and institutionalization. LBD progression is complicated by combined motor, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric decline, and is punctuated by falls, infections, dehydration, and neuropsychiatric symptoms leading to acute healthcare utilization. Although family caregivers are uniquely positioned to identify and manage these challenges, which may avert emergency department visits and reduce morbidity, many caregivers lack the knowledge, skills, confidence, resources, and support to do so. The study team aims to 1) quantify the impact of PERSEVERE on caregiver knowledge, attitudes, mastery, and strain; 2) identify the intervention and mentor factors determining implementation fidelity; and 3) test the effects of PERSEVERE on PLBD quality of life and healthcare utilization. This will be accomplished in an NIH Behavioral Model Stage II national, randomized, attention-controlled, 12-week trial of PERSEVERE in 502 LBD caregivers in partnership with the Lewy Body Dementia Association, Parkinson's Foundation, and LBD Caregiver Advisors. The study team will match intervention arm caregivers with a trained peer mentor who will coach them through a modular, theory-based curriculum on LBD knowledge and social support. Attention-control participants will receive weekly, curated links to educational materials. The study team will identify immediate and delayed intervention effects, including mediators of strain at 12 weeks, and caregiver strain and PLBD outcomes at nine months. Implementation fidelity and PLBD healthcare utilization will be tracked biweekly. Qualitative methods will explore the intervention- and mentor-specific factors predicting fidelity, mentee outcomes, and retention. Remote recruitment, mentoring, and community engagement strategies will maximize accessibility and inclusion of underrepresented caregiver groups. Results will illuminate the extent to which leveraging prior LBD caregivers as expert interventionists can improve current caregiver outcomes, and in turn, PLBD outcomes. These results will inform future adaptation and dissemination of this model for other conditions.
This is a one-arm pilot study testing the feasibility and acceptability of a decision aid about safe firearm storage.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and overlap syndrome are associated with obstructions in breathing and disturbed sleep. Chronic breathing disruptions and poor sleep may lead to cognitive impairment and brain changes linked with early neurodegenerative processes. As such, identifying early markers of cognitive impairment and dementia risk in individuals with chronic respiratory and sleep breathing disorders is crucial for understanding how these diseases may contribute to accelerated brain ageing. This study will comprehensively measure sleep, lung function, cognitive performance and blood-based markers of dementia risk and inflammation. The investigators will use innovative technologies to identify biomarkers of cognitive impairment and dementia risk in people with chronic sleep and breathing disorders. The investigators will also investigate the relationships between disrupted sleep and abnormal breathing and the brain. This research may also inform future early interventions to improve cognition and brain health in chronic sleep and respiratory disease.
This is a prospective cohort study with the main purpose of predicting progression neurocognitive disorders in Thai population. The main predictor variables to be evaluated are plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau) level and cognitive test scores, which will be combined using statistical/computational modeling. Additionally, it seeks to evaluate biomarkers for diagnosing disease pathologies, understand their correlation with clinical outcomes, and explore the socioeconomic impact of neurocognitive disorders. The study invites both participants for biospecimen collection, structured interviews, and cognitive examinations and schedules follow-up visits annually or biennially.
Computer games are increasingly utilized as tools for studying cognitive skills, aging, individual differences, and development. They offer a unique advantage by presenting challenges that more closely mirror the complexities and demands of everyday tasks compared to traditional laboratory experiments, clinical tests, and standardized assessments. Our team took an innovative step in this direction by developing a suite of tablet-based games, titled VibrantMinds. These games, varying in type, are designed to measure diverse cognitive indicators, acting as proxies for assessments typically conducted using paper-and-pencil tests in clinical settings. VibrantMinds games have been specifically crafted to be user-friendly and engaging for older adults, including those with dementia. Our studies have shown that these individuals not only find the games accessible but also exhibit measurable improvement in gameplay, suggesting potential benefits for cognitive skill training. Building on this foundation, we are now poised to conduct an in-depth investigation into the actual effectiveness of serious computer games (SCGs) for cognitive enhancement and their application in real-world settings for older adults. This next phase of research will leverage the VibrantMinds platform to carry out studies aimed at validating software-defined indicators of cognitive function and measuring the impact of game-based interventions on cognitive abilities, health-related quality of life, and other significant real-life outcomes. The anticipated results promise to expand our understanding of the potential for new technologies in cognitive assessment and intervention. Moreover, by employing machine learning analysis of the data collected through VibrantMinds, we aim to develop a taxonomy that correlates game complexity and player performance with conventional clinical instruments for assessing cognitive status and functioning.
This cohort study aims to determine if a blood test can aid with diagnosing dementia in anyone presenting with cognitive complaints to a single healthcare network. The investigators will measure levels of a brain protein, Neurofilament light chain (Nfl), and assess changes in language using speech tests. Participants will have a single blood test and speech test, and will be followed up at 12-months to complete questionnaires and cognitive scales over the phone. The speech test will also be completed again at 12-months. Individuals at risk of a Fronto-temporal dementia syndrome will be eligible to complete optional genetic testing involving an 'at home' saliva sample.
Person-centred care can be supported when healthcare professionals access and actively use the information recorded in a life story. Active use of the life story can create security for a person with dementia and their carers. The written life story describes the person and their life experiences, which can define the person's identity. National guidelines for care and nursing in dementia and Blekinge's regional guidelines emphasise the importance of care and nursing for people with dementia, which should be given with a person-centred approach, where the life story becomes a tool for healthcare professionals. Research shows that a life story can be designed in several ways. For example, in book form, as a brochure, collage, memory box or electronically. The life story is also intended as a tool for healthcare professionals to create security and facilitate communication with the individual. As more and more older adults are using computers and tablets as assistive devices, and it is also becoming more common for healthcare professionals to use, for example, tablets as assistive devices in nursing care, the life story could be shared in digital form as an application and become a living document. Overall aim: To test an application for the life story with the intention of supporting person-centred care for older adults with dementia and to test whether the application can replace the written completion document. Study I: Exploring the research area of the life story in digital form. Study II: Focus group interviews with healthcare professionals. Study III: Test the application, Min Memoria. Study IV: Observations on the use of the application.