View clinical trials related to Alzheimer Dementia.
Filter by:The purpose of the study is to evaluate the use of autologous Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cells (BMSC) as a means to improve cognitive impairment as occurs in Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias and to improve behavior and socialization issues which occur in adult Autism Spectrum Disorder. The use of Near Infrared Light, in conjunction with the use of BMSC, will also be assessed.
The purpose of this study is to investigate how blood flow to the brain affects cognition in women who are postmenopausal, and how the use of hormone therapy early in menopause might change brain function. The testing in this study will add to the knowledge about brain aging in women. Researchers will determine if blood flow to the brain, brain structure, and cognition differences among women who took hormones in the past as part of Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS; NCT00154180), are currently taking hormones, or never took menopausal hormones.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two of the most common types of age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Identifying at-risk patients and gauging disease progression in a non-invasive manner would be invaluable. Early and correct diagnosis is crucial for coordinating supportive care, patient expectations, caregiver arrangements and family planning. In addition, as treatments become available, beginning therapy early in the disease before symptoms become severe will be important. Multimodal ocular imaging (MOI) includes an ophthalmic (eye) exam and eye photographs to evaluate different layers of the retina, which is the light sensing layer of the eye. Newer technologies make it possible to visualize the disease process occurring in AD and FTD by using MOI to look at the retina, since the retina is fundamentally an outward extension of the brain itself. This study will attempt to correlate signs of disease in the retina, as determined by MOI, with plaque buildup in the brain as seen by imaging. This will demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of MOI for diagnosing AD and FTD in a noninvasive manner.
The Etude Study is a multi-center, four-arm prospective dose-adjusting study designed to assess the tolerability, safety and efficacy of non-invasive sensory stimulation for patients with cognitive impairment.
The purpose of this study is to learn about how trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and mild traumatic brain injury that can occur during deployment affect the brain. The investigators also want to learn how PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury can affect the chance of developing Alzheimer disease later in life. The investigators will study this by using magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography scans to obtain pictures of the brain.
Alzheimer disease is the most common of the neurodegenerative diseases. Epilepsy and sleep wake disorders are co-morbid conditions of Alzheimer disease. The investigators propose a prospective study using long-term EEG monitoring in combination with polysomnography to determine prevalence of epilepsy and sleep wake disorders in Alzheimer disease, and correlate these findings with clinical data, Alzheimer disease biomarkers and imaging studies (MRI and amyloid/tau-PET). In selected patients, the investigators will perform EEG studies with foramen ovale electrodes. The ultimate goal is to improve the outcome of patients with Alzheimer disease by early treatment of epilepsy and restoring sleep-wake disturbances.
This placebo-controlled, double blind study evaluates the treatment effects of adding a multi-pathway botanical dietary supplement (ReBuilder) to the standard treatment regimens of subjects diagnosed with mild or moderate stage Alzheimer's Disease. The objective of the study is to determine if mild and moderate AD patients exhibit improved or stabilized cognitive function when this supplement is added to maximum tolerated doses of their standard treatments.
Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) is one of the most challenging chronic health conditions in the United States and considerable disparities exist in the diagnosis and prevalence of ADRD among communities of color. Research suggests that ADRD caregiver interventions have demonstrated efficacy, however, it remains unknown whether existing ADRD caregiver interventions are useful or accessible to African American ADRD caregivers in community settings. The primary goal of the proposed project is to develop an in-home psychoeducational intervention (The Senior Companion Program Plus, or SCP Plus) that is accessible, sustainable, and affordable for African American ADRD caregivers. The SCP Plus will focus on African American ADRD caregivers who are particularly affected by poverty, discrimination, and barriers to health care services and supports. A recent pilot study has established the feasibility and utility of SCP Plus. With the assistance of 6 student research assistants over the course of the project, we will implement the SCP Plus at sites in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, recruiting approximately 114 participants. The participants will be randomized with 57 caregivers receiving the SCP Plus and 57 caregivers receiving services as usual with the Senior Companion Program. A weekly, 60 minute psychoeducational module will be delivered face-to-face across 9 weeks and will focus on education about ADRD, behavior management, communication skills, and aspects of providing care that enhance meaning such as spirituality. In order to provide an accessible and cost effective intervention that is potentially sustainable, senior companions will be trained to provide the intervention in the homes of the African American ADRD caregivers. Specific Aim 1. Determine whether SCP Plus reduces level of burden and stress among African American caregivers over a 3- and 6-month period when compared to a usual care control group. Specific Aim 2. Ascertain if SCP Plus improves coping skills among African American caregivers over a 3- and 6-month period when compared to a usual care control group. Specific Aim 3. Examine whether SCP Plus improves the level of satisfaction with support social among African American caregivers over a 3- and 6- month period when compared to a usual care control group. Specific Aim 4. Explore and interpret the statistical results obtained in the first quantitative phase to help explain why participants who scored in the lower and upper quartiles on caregiver burden/stress were impacted or not by the usefulness of the intervention. Successful design, delivery, and evaluation of the SCP Plus will lead to a cost effective, sustainable, and accessible intervention that can be implemented in other Senior Companion programs across the country, thus maximizing its impact as a community-based program to address the needs of African American ADRD caregivers.
Memory and cognitive declines are associated with normal brain aging but are also precursors to dementia, in particular the so called the pandemic of the century, Alzheimer's disease. While currently there is no cure or "vaccine" against dementia, there are hopes to delay the onset of the disease by living a brain-healthy life style. The proposed research offers a novel approach to prevent dementia and age-related cognitive disorders. We propose to use our developed brain fitness APP for the aging population with dementia. The proposed APP is based on the premise of brain plasticity, and targets the brain functions that are declining with normal aging and dementia. In a pilot study, we showed very positive effects of our custom designed brain exercises to strengthen left-right side brain connectivity in older adults when used regularly. Leveraging our previous design, we have developed an end-user product with additional features and enhanced user interface and user experience that will allow it to be used for neuro-cognitive rehabilitation by an individual without supervision The proposed APP will be tested on 30 individuals with cognitive impairment. Additionally, participants can receive an optional electrical stimulation called transcranial alternating current stimulation. This applies an alternating current to a person's brain by two electrodes placed on the scalp. The participants, who choose this option, will receive simultaneous stimulation during the brain exercise tutored sessions. Studies have shown that simultaneous application of the electrical stimulation and cognitive exercises further enhances the cognitive function by boosting the working memory improvement. Thus, this may lead to further improvements from any potential positive effects of the brain exercises. We anticipate the frequent use of the proposed APP will help to slow and even reverse the progression of the cognition decline in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
It is hypothesized that reappraising intergeneration relationships through perspective-taking will enhance the well-being of adult-child caregivers. Incorporating both psychological and social perspectives, the study makes a unique contribution to address research gaps by evaluating an integrated model of intervention for dementia caregivers. The conceptual model involves the following components: 1) relational insights; 2) self-reflection to integrate the challenges and benefits in caregiving; 3) interpersonal empathy To test the incremental value of perspective-taking reappraisals, the study involves a two-arm randomized controlled trial of 12 weeks of intervention with two conditions: 1) Reappraisal through Perspective Taking and 2) Basic Skill Building. Telephone-administered sessions are integrated with group sessions and home visits to maximize sustainability and accessibility of the intervention. One hundred fifty-four participants will be recruited and randomized. Primary outcomes are reduced depressive symptoms and enhanced psychological well-being for the caregivers. Secondary outcomes include enhanced social support for caregivers and reduced behavioral problems in the care-recipients.