View clinical trials related to Nerve Degeneration.
Filter by:Whereas the advantageous effects of exercise-training on memory is increasingly recognized, the practicality and clinical usefulness of such interventions in community-dwelling older African Americans (AA)s Mild Cognitively Impaired (MCI) subjects, and the mechanism by which an effect occurs need elucidation. Because aerobic-exercise can improve emerging cardiovascular (CVD)-related risk factors for cognitive decline such as lipids, inflammatory cytokines and glucose homeostasis; the Investigators will examine training effects on these and related biomarkers. The imperative for this study is further underscored by the fact that, AAs: i) have high rates of dementia, and ii) have paucity of cross-sectional, and lack prospective data on the effects of exercise on cognition. To overcome barriers to recruitment and retention, enhance compliance with a long exercise program (3-times/week), and maximize the use of available resources, the Investigators will use a community-based approach. Therefore, the primary objectives of this study build on the Investigators' experience, and will compare the effects of aerobic-exercise to stretch-exercise (control) in community-dwelling AA MCI subjects. Following the initial 6 months active intervention, the aerobic-exercise group will follow a prescribed but free living 40 minutes, 3 time/week exercise regimen while the control group returns to usual care plus stretch-exercise for additional 12 months. This study will facilitate the estimation of sample size for a larger confirmatory study in AAs. A newly acquired direct oversight of the DC Ward-6 Senior Wellness Center and its infrastructures by the Howard University Division of Geriatrics will provide additional resources and access to the community. In addition to the Investigator's feasibility aims, the Investigators will determine performance on cognitive tasks using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Sub-scale (ADAS-Cog) and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) sum of boxes supplemented by tests of executive function (EF) and Functional Activity Questionnaire (FA) and together as ADAS-Cog-Plus; changes in brain volume regions of interest (ROI) with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), selected CVD and AD-related bio-markers.
The purpose of this study is to learn more about Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA) Disorders. Data is being collected on three types of NBIA disorders: Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN), PLA2G6-associated Neurodegeneration (PLAN) and Beta-propeller Protein-associated Neurodegeneration (BPAN). The study will (1) collect information about how symptoms and findings in NBIA change over time and (2) identify measures of NBIA that can be used in future clinical trials. Participants will follow links to a secure website every 6 months for a period of 5-10 years to electronically complete a set of rating scales as related to their NBIA disorder.
This was a 24-month, open-label, multicenter study with a single treatment arm design. Primary objective of this study was: -To investigate the effects of Fingolimod on cognitive performance in highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients Secondary objectives of this study were: - To investigate the correlation between the effect of fingolimod on cognitive performances and MRI data. - To evaluate the effect of fingolimod on biomarkers (24 hydroxy cholesterol, osteopontin and matrix metalloproteinases) related to neurodegeneration - To investigate the effect of fingolimod on brain gray matter atrophy and thalamic atrophy. Polulation The hope was to recruit a minimum of 80 relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) patients according to the McDonald criteria.
The LEARN study a multicenter, observational study will that will evaluate the rate of cognitive change in approximately 500 clinically normal older individuals who "screen-fail" for the A4 trial on the basis of their screening PET imaging not demonstrating evidence of elevated amyloid accumulation (Aβ negative) but meet all other A4 study eligibility criteria. This study will leverage the A4 infrastructure and maximize the data acquired in screening a large number of well-characterized older adults for the A4 trial. The LEARN observational cohort will provide a critical comparison group for the A4 placebo arm, and future trials in preclinical AD. Although accumulating longitudinal data suggest that older individuals with elevated Aβ burden are at increased risk of cognitive decline, it is important to demonstrate a differential rate of clinical decline between Aβe ("Aβ elevated") and Aβne ("Aβ not elevated") individuals on a standardized set of clinical outcomes. Over 2000 well-characterized, highly motivated older volunteers will "screen fail" for the A4 trial. The LEARN study will follow 500 of these individuals, matched as closely as possible to the two treatment arms, in this observation cohort. The LEARN study may selectively recruit from a specific range of SUVr that fall below the threshold for "elevated amyloid" in order to support analyses of the relationship of baseline SUVr to subsequent cognitive change and amyloid accumulation. The observational cohort will be followed for 384 weeks with identical clinical/cognitive testing performed every 24 weeks, running parallel to the A4 treatment study and open label extension.
The goal of this study is to determine the pattern of early neurodegenerative changes in WFS (Wolfram Syndrome). The investigator will perform cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments of youth with WFS, targeting sensitive neural systems with quantified neuroimaging and behavioral measures. In addition, the investigator will establish the utility of a WFS severity rating scale (WFS Unified Rating Scale or WURS). Preliminary data support the feasibility of this approach and its potential to generate important new information about neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative patterns in WFS. This work is necessary to position the field for future clinical trials to test interventions for WFS neurodegeneration. Ultimately, a better understanding of the trajectory of neurodegeneration in WFS and the development of effective interventions may be relevant to other more common neurodegenerative and endocrine (Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes) diseases in which ER stress has been implicated.
Alemtuzumab is the active agent of a drug called Lemtrada®. In the European Union, Lemtrada® is approved for the treatment of a particular form of multiple sclerosis (the so called relapsing remitting form). The excellent efficacy of the drug justifies its administration albeit a high risk of considerable side effects. In this context, so called secondary (occurring after the administration of Lemtrada®) autoimmune diseases are of particular importance. In these diseases the immune system acts against structures of the body itself; the reasons are still unknown. Autoimmune diseases may even occur several years after treatment with Lemtrada®. Therefore, patients who once received the drug need to undergo intensive long term health monitoring. This study aims to elucidate which mechanisms cause to the positive and negative effects of Lemtrada®. The study includes patients only, who suffer from multiple sclerosis and are indicated to be treated with Lemtrada®. All patients receive the drug according to the official recommendations.
A clear association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been reported. This association is independent of vascular impairment, and therefore, it could be attributed to neurodegeneration triggered or accelerated by diabetes itself. At present there are no methods to identify T2D patients at risk for developing AD. The retina shares many features with the brain and, therefore, has been suggested as an easily accessible way of examining pathology in the brain. In fact, many patients with AD present retinal abnormalities. However, the diagnosis of diabetes, a condition frequently associated with retinal neurodegeneration, has not been considered. On this basis, the final aim of this proposal is to identify diabetic patients at risk for developing AD based on the assessment of retinal neurodegeneration by means of non-invasive tests. Specific aims: 1) To compare the prevalence of morphological and functional abnormalities related to retinal neurodegeneration among three groups of T2D patients: patients with AD, patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and patients without AD or MCI. 2) To assess whether the retinal neurodegenerative features are related to severity of AD. 3) To explore whether the combined retinal neurodegeneration in diabetic patients with AD has a different functional and/or morphological pattern in comparison with neurodegeneration secondary to diabetes alone. Methods: Case-control study. Retinal neurodegeneration will be assessed by mutifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The potential confounders will be considered in data analyses. Feasibility: A unique multidisciplinary consortium has been created in order to warrant the feasibility of the project Expected impact: This innovative approach will fill a gap that currently exist in the health care system and will reduce the economic burden associated with T2D patients with AD. In addition, this project would be the backbone for future prospective studies.
Patients with PKAN will be treated with the iron chelator deferiprone for 18 months. Only patients who have completed the earlier study TIRCON2012V1 (NCT01741532), a double-blind placebo-controlled trial in which participants were randomized to receive either deferiprone or placebo for 18 months, are eligible to enroll.
Autologous adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRC) extracted using Celution 800/CRS System (Cytori Therapeutics Inc) from a portion of the fat harvested from the patient's front abdominal wall. ADRC will be administered one-time into subtenon space of patient's eyeball. This is a single arm study with no control. All patients receive cell therapy.
The purpose of this study is to learn whether blood flow in the brain is normal in people with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN). Specifically, preliminary data suggest a region of the brain called the globus pallidus (GP), a key region affected by PKAN, may have reduced blood flow. Standard MRI and perfusion scanning techniques will be used to learn about cerebral blood flow in the globus pallidus and compare it to blood flow in other brain regions as well as to healthy controls.