View clinical trials related to Dementia.
Filter by:Background: Different anaesthetic agents have been shown to have different protective effects upon heart, brain and renal function under ischaemic conditions (oxygen starvation). Cardiopulmonary bypass takes over the work of the heart and the lungs during heart surgery, but oxygenation of vital organs such as the brain and heart may not be perfect, and can produce brain or heart damage as a consequence. Propofol and desflurane are commonly used anaesthetic agents, and there has been recent research to suggest that anaesthetic agents may provide some protection during periods where inadequate oxygenation occurs, with the potential to reduce the degree of organ damage. Both types of anaesthetics are used for cardiac surgery with anaesthetists choosing between them largely on the basis of personal preference. Aim: To determine whether the use of either propofol or desflurane as the primary anaesthetic agent, can lead to differences in postoperative brain function, total morbidity or cost, following coronary artery surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: Patients will be recruited by professional research staff and will be randomised into one of two groups (90 in each group). They will receive a standardized technique for anaesthesia, cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative ICU treatment. The only difference between the 2 groups will be as to which anaesthetic agent they receive during the surgical period, desflurane or propofol. Measurements will involve i) brain function testing before and 3 months after surgery ( a set of 10 verbal or manual tests), ii) incidence of delirium in the immediate postoperative period (a survey form), iii) incidence of total postoperative morbidity and iv) cost of hospital stay. Data collection will be by anaesthesia and research staff and a neuropsychologist will employed for performing the brain function testing. Anticipated timeline: Initial recruitment completed by 15-18 months following trial commencement. Follow up completed 3 month after the last enrolment. Data validation, statistical analysis and manuscript preparation completed by 24 months.
This will be the first large cohort study to define the epidemiology of and identify modifiable risk factors for long-term CI and functional deficits of ICU survivors. The investigators will measure the independent contribution of risk factors such as delirium and exposure to sedative and analgesic medications to the incidence of long-term CI, controlling for established risk factors (e.g., age, pre-existing CI, and apoE genotype). Defining the contributions of these risk factors will make it possible to develop preventive and/or treatment strategies to reduce the incidence, severity and/or duration of long-term CI and improve functional recovery of patients with acute critical illness.
To evaluate General Practitioners use and reuptake of an e-learning programme in diagnostic evaluation of dementia after an intervention consisting of three mailed reminder letters. There is no direct patient involvement in this study.
Sleep disturbances are widespread among demented residents of board and care homes and are a leading cause for transfer into nursing homes. This study is a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a 4-week Sleep Education Program (SEP) for demented residents of board and care homes who are experiencing sleep disturbances. Residents of adult family homes (board and care homes with 2-6 residents) will be randomized into SEP or usual care control. Analysis of outcomes will determine whether the SEP is feasible and effective in adult family home settings, and whether the SEP delays transition into higher levels of institutional care.
The evaluate the use and diffusion of an E-learning programme in Diagnostic Evaluation of Dementia among General Practitioners (GPs) in Denmark. The hypothesis are: 1. The GPs do not use the guided instructions 2. The GPs using the programme are more frequently younger GPs. 3. GPs working in rural areas will use the programme more frequently
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of an Early Stage Memory Loss Support Group (ESSG) and Education Seminar (ES) on quality of life, mood, social support, distress about memory loss, and interpersonal relationships of memory loss participants and their caregivers.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a low dose an opiate pain medication is effective for the treatment of discomfort in patients with advanced dementia. The study medication was also known as Lortab and contained both a narcotic pain medication and acetaminophen (the same pain medication as contained in Tylenol). This study was an eight-week long clinical trial for discomfort among veterans with advanced dementia who were admitted to a Nursing Home Care Unit (NHCU) at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration(FTLD) is a common cause of early-onset dementia. FTLD is characterized multiple behavioral symptoms including mental rigidity, irritability, emotional blunting, disinhibition, apathy, and aggression. These behavioural disturbances are particularly important because they increase caregiver burden and may lead to earlier institutionalization. While the causes of FTLD are largely unknown, there is a great deal of evidence suggesting that a brain chemical called serotonin regulates many of the behaviours that are disturbed in FTLD. Our objective is therefore to determine whether dysfunction in the brain's serotonin system is responsible for behavioural problems among FTLD patients. We hope to take the first steps towards a scientific understanding of the behavioural symptoms of FTD, and use our findings to support a larger study optimizing the treatment of targeted behavioural disturbances in FTLD using the antidepressant citalopram. Citalopram increases transmission by serotonin; we plan to use this medication to determine whether there are any differences in how the serotonin system functions in FTLD patients who display different levels of behavioural disturbances. Patients will be given citalopram and will have their blood drawn after 2 and 3 hours to determine plasma levels of the hormones cortisol and prolactin at those times. These hormones are good indicators of serotonergic functioning in the central nervous system. We expect that patients with lower levels of serotonergic functioning will have more severe behavioural disturbances and be less responsive to treatment with citalopram. Following their first test day, we will provide patients with a 6-week supply of citalopram, and assess them for any changes in behaviour at the end of this treatment. This study aims to obtain a better understanding of how changes in the serotonin system relate to behavioural symptoms in FTLD patients. Using the information from this pilot study, we can plan a larger study to determine whether certain behaviours will respond to treatment with citalopram, and if so, determine whether it is possible to predict which patients, based on individual characteristics, are most likely to respond to this treatment. This methodology will therefore not only provide a scientific rationale for treatment of FTLD, but also provide guidance for ongoing, individualized therapy.
We plan to evaluate the use of memantine in Alzheimer's disease to control agitation in the acute situation i.e under 12 weeks
Amyloid senile plaques (SPs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that also accumulate in key brain regions in association with normal aging. This project will expand an established program in early detection and prevention of AD designed (1) to identify presymptomatic persons most likely to benefit from early intervention and (2) to provide an objective, noninvasive means to monitor therapeutic trials.