View clinical trials related to Cognitive Dysfunction.
Filter by:Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60-70 % of all cases. An early, accurate diagnosis of AD will become increasingly important with disease-modifying therapies. Different types of fluid and neuroimaging biomarkers are available for the early detection of AD. However, implementation of routine use of these biomarkers in clinical settings is held back due to the risk of overdiagnosis, increased cost and invasiveness of the assessment method. Therefore, novel biomarkers are needed beyond the amyloid and tau pathologies for the early diagnosis of AD. Neuropsychological paper and pencil tests can detect AD and discriminate between different clinical stages. Since medial temporal lobe structures, including the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (EC), are involved in spatial navigation and degenerate in the earliest stages of AD, spatial navigation can be considered as an early cognitive biomarker of the disease. Nonetheless, the measurement of spatial navigation needs further improvement since the current paper and pencil tests lack ecological validity. Therefore, the test environment should be set up in immersive Virtual Reality (iVR). Dr. Andrea Castegnaro (Space and Memory Lab of University College of London) developed the Allocentric Spatial Update Task (ALLO task), which is an iVR task measuring egocentric and allocentric spatial abilities. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to evaluate whether allocentric and egocentric spatial navigation, measured by the ALLO iVR task can be considered a cognitive biomarker for the early detection of AD. In addition, the investigators want to report on the neuronal correlates of both spatial navigation strategies. Through the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital of Ghent, which has a large cognitive disorders clinic, patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's dementia will be recruited. Participants will undergo standard clinical assessment, including a neuropsychological examination, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET and a Lumbar Puncture. In addition, participants will also be asked to undergo Tau PET imaging, Amyloid PET imaging and complete the ALLO iVR task. Healthy controls will also be recruited and have to undergo the same investigations, except for the amyloid PET and lumbar puncture.
This study aims to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a 10-weekly multi-domain VRCT program on the cognitive function (i.e. attention, memory, and executive functioning) of older adults with MCI.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment. It is currently the most common type of dementia in the old age. At present, the clinical treatment of Alzheimer's disease is expensive and has side effects, so it is very important to explore new methods of treatment for AD. Investigators designed a prospective, randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on cognitive function in AD patients and to assess the biological effectiveness of the treatment.
During the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic a large number patients reported different functional complaints one month or later after recovery from the acute infection. This entity had a number of names including "long-COVID" or "post COVID condition". Long-COVID is on the rise and no effective treatment exists yet to improve cognitive function. Recent research has shown that people with even mild COVID had a greater decline in executive function, notably in their ability to perform complex tasks. What drives post-COVID cognitive changes is still a mystery and there are no effective treatments available. One hypothesis is that there is persistent immune activation resulting in reduction in cerebral blood flow. There is evidence that increased CO2 may decrease inflammation, and decreased CO2 may increase inflammation. Objectives: The primary objective of this pilot study is to assess the safety and tolerability of the use of Hi-OX sequential rebreathing for the treatment of post-COVID cognitive dysfunction. The secondary objective is to identify the effects of the use of the Hi-OX rebreathing treatment in changing post-COVID cognitive dysfunction.
This project aims to understand the feasibility, acceptability and real-world evidence of a novel UK-based remote brain health clinic for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A timely and accurate diagnosis of dementia is a priority in the UK and MCI is indicative of future risk of cognitive decline. An accurate etiological diagnosis of MCI (MCI-subtyping - distinguishing those who are likely to go on to develop dementia and those who are not) is vital for treatment planning. Whilst the assessment of molecular biological markers (biomarkers) for etiological diagnosis of MCI and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasingly recommended and employed internationally, the uptake is low in UK memory clinics. The Brain Health Clinic (BHC) has been specifically designed as a state-of-the-art diagnostic centre for those with MCI. Procedures will include a range of clinical and biomarker assessments, with molecular biomarkers based on lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. Additionally, the clinic will employ remote neuropsychiatric assessments using digital and telephonic methods. This allows for regular contact, whilst adhering to changes in clinical practice and national guidance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our overarching objectives are to first establish the acceptability and feasibility of the remote Brain Health Clinic and its novel clinical and biomarker assessment programme. Then secondly establish the impact of care under the Brain Health Clinic on i) care management decisions (e.g. follow-up and treatment planning); ii) time to etiological diagnosis of MCI (MCI-subtyping); and iii) time to diagnosis of dementia and severity of dementia at the time of diagnosis.
Cognitive technology therapies, including interactive video gaming, computer soft wares and mobile technology, have been used to implement cognitive training and rehabilitation programs. Potential advantages to using technology-based interventions include enhanced accessibility and cost-effectiveness, providing a user experience to be good communicator, immersive and comprehensive.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about and describe how pianistic training influences the development of Alzheimer's disease. The key question is: Can pianistic practice influence the development of Alzheimer's disease? Participants will receive piano lessons for 4 weeks (20 sessions) and we will evaluate the evolution of the different parameters described by the tests carried out.
Life expectancy has been increasing for the last 150 years, but the maintenance of health has not kept pace with increased lifespan, and on average, UK adults spend the last decade of life in poor-health, with major consequences for society and the individual. Persistent physical inactivity is thought to be a key contributing factor to the risk of poor health and functional decline occurring in middle-aged and older adults. It is therefore concerning that most middle-aged adults spend >8hrs/day being sedentary, with average step count of 3000-4000 steps/day. To be able to holistically assess the effectiveness of future strategies to address age-related decline in health, and devise public health messages to help individuals reach older age in better health, it is essential that the complex physiological effects that activity and inactivity have across biological systems are characterised. The goal of this intervention study is to compare the impact of physical activity and inactivity on body functioning. Twenty moderately active participants will decrease their physical activity for six months to match the average amount carried out by middle-aged people in the UK. They will then undertake 3-months of reconditioning training to restore their fitness. In addition, twenty sedentary participants will increase their physical activity to UK recommended levels for six months. Before and at points during the intervention period, participants will be asked to make some measurements at home and attend the University of Nottingham to have multiple assessments made. These include; - fitness, muscle strength and function tests, - completion of questionnaires and computer-based brain puzzles - having muscle and fat tissue biopsies and blood samples taken. - The study also involves having MRI scans. This 5-year study will commence in January 2024, with participant recruitment starting in March 2024 and finishing in May 2027.
Recent studies have shown promising cognitive and physical interventions aimed at slowing down ageing-related declines in quality of life, but they lack strong ecological validity (brief durations, unrealistic goals, no real-world application) and has yet to show robust evidence that such interventions are stable and suitable in the long-term. The investigators aim to examine whether these interventions can, over four years, significantly slow down the normal rate of ageing-related decline.
To determine the relationship between the effects of different frequencies and duration of Tai Chi Chuan in dose parameters to improve cognitive function in elderly persons with mild cognitive impairment.