View clinical trials related to Alzheimer's Disease.
Filter by:The 'Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis' posits that the accumulation of a peptide, amyloid beta (Aβ), in the brain is the initiating event in Alzheimer's disease (AD), however, the mechanisms involved are not well understood. Recent studies support the hypothesis that Aβ dynamics in the brain are influenced by the sleep-wake cycle, with increases in the production of soluble Aβ during wakefulness and decreases during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and more specifically on NREM stage 3 (also called slow wave sleep [SWS]). These changes produce a consistent diurnal pattern in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that has been documented in murine models and in humans. By better understanding this sleep-wake relationship the investigators hope to identify how sleep disorders accelerate the progression of AD in the elderly (which has been demonstrated by multiple epidemiological studies) and, in turn, identify novel therapeutic targets for AD prevention. The purpose of this study is to elucidate how soluble amyloid beta (Aβ) levels in the brain are influenced by the sleep-wake cycle in humans, and to test the directionality of this relationship through sleep disruption experiments. The investigators will test two models. The first model will test how, prior to amyloid deposition, brain soluble Aβ levels may be relatively increased in the elderly by two mechanisms: a) loss of total sleep time and SWS that occur with normal aging; and b) sleep disturbances such as Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) or insomnia that are common in late life (Aim 1). The second model will test how stage-specific sleep disruption may lead to increased CSF Aβ42 levels (Aim 2). A group of adults with diagnosed severe SDB and good continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) compliance will be used to test this model sleep deprivation experiments using therapeutic CPAP vs. sham CPAP. This project will be the first to explore the protective effect of SWS on Aβ42 dynamics in a group of cognitively normal elderly subjects as well as the effect of acute sleep disruption by CPAP withdrawal on CSF Aβ42 levels in a well characterized clinical sample of severe obstructive SDB patients on treatment with CPAP. The results from this study will improve our understanding of the nature of the Aβ diurnal pattern and the brain consequences of full night sleep disruptions as well as sleep disruptions during specific stages of sleep.
The study aims to identify immune biomarkers in peripheral blood for identifying Alzheimer's disease (AD). Blood samples from subjects with AD will be compared to age-matched controls without cognitive symptoms, as well as healthy younger subjects.
The purpose of this study is to determine if telmisartan, an FDA approved blood pressure medication, may also have beneficial effects on Alzheimer's disease prevention in African Americans, who are at high risk for Alzheimer's disease.
This study evaluates the effect of ORM-12741 on agitation/aggression symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. Two thirds of the patients will receive ORM-12741 and one third will receive placebo.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of BAC patients with Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia.The secondary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of BAC patients with Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia.
This pilot clinical trial will examine the effects of intranasal insulin aspart on cognition, daily function, blood and cerebral spinal fluid markers of Alzheimer's disease, and amyloid deposition in the brain. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive insulin aspart or placebo during a 12-week treatment period.
Background: - Insulin removes sugar from the blood to use for energy. Insulin resistance means that cells may not respond to insulin normally. It can lead to serious diseases. Researchers want to see how diet affects insulin resistance, weight, and brain chemicals related to Alzheimer s disease. Objectives: - To compare two forms of diet and their effects on insulin resistance and the brain. Eligibility: - Women ages 55 70 with insulin resistance. Design: - This study requires 6 clinic visits over 9 12 weeks. Participants must fast before visits. - Visit 1, screening: - Medical history, physical exam, and blood and urine tests. - Participants will get a wrist device to wear for 4 days. - Visit 2: - Weight and waist measurement. - Blood drawn. - Questionnaires and thinking tests. - Lumbar puncture. Skin will be numbed and a needle inserted between bones in the back will remove <TAB>fluid. - Participants will drink a nutrition shake. Blood will be taken 12 times over 4 <TAB>hours through a thin tube in <TAB>the arm. - Brain MRI. Participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of a cylinder in a strong magnetic field. <TAB>They will have a coil on their head and may do tasks. - Participants will get advice about healthy eating and be randomly put in one of 2 groups. One group will get <TAB>nutrition shakes to drink. - Visits 3 5: - Weight and waist measurements, vital signs, blood draw, and questionnaires. - Between visits, participants will get a call or email to check how they are doing. - Visit 6: Repeat of visit 1. - Participants will wear the wrist device for 4 more days, have a follow-up contact, then the study is finished.
The purpose of this research study is to measure current flow inside the head using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The data from this study will be used to map the current flow caused from the electrical stimulation inside the head. The methods develop will be used to map and better control delivery of the current for electrical stimulation to modify a psychiatric condition such as depression; or other conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease or autism.
It is hypothesized, that local retinoic acid (RA) homeostasis is functionally involved in the pathophysiology of depression. In a cross-sectional (and partly longitudinal) analysis, serum RA status will be assessed in healthy controls and subjects with Major Depression, Alzheimer's disease, alcoholism and in subjects with schizophrenia.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) induces a cerebral seizure by electrical stimulation under general anesthesia and muscle relaxation, is regarded as a highly efficient (for specific and severe psychiatric disorders) and extremely safe modern treatment option. Alzheimer´s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration accompanied by declining activities of daily living, by a variety of behavioral disturbances and by neuropsychiatric symptoms. The clinical progression of disease can be delayed by pharmaceutical therapies like acetylcholinesterase inhibition (e.g. rivastigmine) for 6 to 12 months at most. Along with the well-known biomarkers of AD (Aß- and tau-proteins) a lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level is since recently being considered as a negative predictor for the further disease course. In animal experimental studies it was possible to arrest the disease progression with the aid of neurotrophic substances. Many single studies, but also a number of meta-analyses show primary gray matter atrophy in hippocampal, parahippocampal and medial temporal brain regions. Strikingly, ECT yields exact opposite effects to those caused by AD: an ECT series leads to an increase of serum BDNF-levels in patients. Parallel to this observation evidence exists for gray matter volume gain after an ECT series, especially for the hippocampus. There is sufficient clinical experience regarding the use of ECT in AD-patients, mainly on the basis of following indications: a) affective disorders and b) behavioral disturbances. A positive effect of ECT on the symptoms of agitation and aggression was assessed in AD patients alongside with a very good tolerability. To investigate the potential salutary effects of ECT on AD the investigators designed a pilot study with the following concept: Patients with a confirmed AD diagnosis and preexisting stable antidementia medication over at least 6 months will receive a modified maintenance ECT over a total of 27 weeks. In the proposed pilot study, the investigators hypothesize that cognitive functioning of AD patients will improve significantly and independently from affective symptoms, when initial and final examinations are compared. The affirmation of the hypothesis would provide not only further insight into the mechanism of action of ECT but also a very important reference point for the development of new treatment options for a so-far incurable disease.