Selective PET Imaging of Astrocytes and Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer DiseaseHealthyInflammation occurs in many brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid starts accumulating decades before the start of forgetfulness. Basic scientists have reported that inflammation but not amyloid is linked to forgetfulness. When people pinch a finger, it gets swollen. Similar changes occur in brain from various causes. New medications are under development to help healing and prevent permanent damages in the brain. When people pinch a finger, they can check if the injury is healing or getting worse by watching. Investigators can watch inside of the brain using a special camera called positron emission tomography (PET). It is currently possible to watch inflammation in the brain by taking pictures of a molecule called translocator protein (TSPO). But the problem is that by imaging TSPO, investigators can catch changes in more than one kind of cells. The information is not specific to each cell type. Such vague information is not useful to monitor the effect of new medications for inflammation. This proposal attempts to develop a novel method to capture changes in each of two major players in inflammation, microglia and astrocytes. To do so, investigators will take selective pictures of one cell type by using a novel imaging agent for PET. Investigators will also take PET pictures of TSPO. Investigators will process these two kinds of PET pictures using advanced mathematical methods and extract specific information on microglia and astrocytes. Our novel method will be useful to monitor new therapies to treat inflammation in brain.
Dronabinol for Agitation in Dementia Crossover Trial
Dementia ModerateDementia Severe2 moreThe goal of this clinical trial is to study the effects of dronabinol in US Veterans with agitation related to moderate to severe dementia. The main goals of the study are: To evaluate the efficacy of dronabinol for the treatment of agitation in moderate to severe dementia compared to placebo To evaluate the safety of dronabinol in the treatment of agitation in moderate to severe dementia compared to placebo Fifty (50) subjects will be given either dronabinol or placebo for 8 weeks. All subjects will then undergo a "washout" phase for 3 weeks, followed by the crossover intervention (i.e. subjects who received placebo during the first phase will receive dronabinol during the second phase, and vice versa). Thus, all participants will be taking dronabinol at some point during the study. During the study, subjects will undergo evaluations for: Agitation Cognitive changes Physical changes (i.e. labs, ekg, physical exam)
Group-Based Telehealth Music Therapy Intervention for Patients With Dementia: A Pilot Study
Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms of DementiaAlzheimer Disease2 moreTwelve participants and their care partners will be randomized for the intervention. The music therapy intervention takes place once a week for 6 weeks via telemedicine, with the first session reserved for music therapy intake/assessment. There are 5 additional visits, once per week. The format of the sessions may include: a greeting song to orient the participant to the start of the session; singing of 1-3 preferred/chosen songs to address cognition and communication; two movement songs with instrument playing interventions to stimulate cognition and movement; songwriting for self-expression, cognitive, and emotional support; relaxation/mindfulness; a closing song to help the participant transition at the completion of the session, The music therapist also provides training to caregivers in techniques to utilize music for behavioral support. Twelve participants and their care partners will be randomized to receive a personalized music CD that they keep and can listen to as they wish.
Understanding How Alzheimer's Disease Impacts the Therapeutic Response to Transcranial Direct Current...
Alzheimer DiseaseThere is currently little symptomatic therapy for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and nothing effective for individuals with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, neuromodulation with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has the potential to be a clinically effective therapy for both AD and FTD. The challenge now is to specify the parameters and conditions under which tDCS is most effective to transition from the laboratory to clinical medicine. tDCS studies typically report significant group effects despite the variability demonstrated among participants, with some showing clear, meaningful improvement, while others only show statistical improvement or none at all. These variable results may be related to the conventional stimulation intensity level of 2mA. The investigators predict that administering tDCS at 4.0 mA, a more significant number of participants would show a meaningful response, and those who improve at 2mA may improve even more from 4.0mA due to having a larger electric field produced. The investigators aim to test this hypothesis in people with Alzheimer's Disease.
All About Me: An Intervention to Ease the Transition to Long Term Care
DementiaAlzheimer Disease5 moreThis Phase I study will involve initial development and evaluation of an innovative cross-platform software app called All About Me (AAM), which will consist of Serious Digital Health Games (SDHGs) for PWD. The AAM app will assist staff in providing person-centered care and enable residents to improve relationships with one another and with staff, thereby promoting a sense of community. This Phase I study has three Specific Aims: (1) Develop an Alpha version of the AAM App, (2) Examine acceptability of and satisfaction with the AAM App, and (3) Examine the impact of the Resident Game Bundle / Survey Says Game on engagement/affect.
Implementing Dementia Care Management Into Routine Care in the Region Siegen-Wittgenstein
DementiaDementia Alzheimers2 moreDementia Care Management (DeCM) is an evidence-based model of care in Germany. It has proven its efficacy and cost-effectiveness. However it has not been implemented into routine care so far. The aim of this trial is to implement Dementia Care Management into routine care in a selected region in Germany and evaluate the process of implementation as well as the effect of Dementia Care Management on participants. Recruited in regular routine care n=60 people with cognitive impairment and/ or their cares will receive Dementia Care Management provided by specifically trained and qualified dementia care managers for 6 months. Data will be assessed and analysed prior to the implementation, immediately after having received the intervention and at a later time point. The effect of the intervention on person-oriented health care outcomes wil be analysed as well as factors associated with that.
PRedicting the EVolution of SubjectIvE Cognitive Decline to Alzheimer's Disease With Machine Learning...
Cognitive DeclineMild Cognitive Impairment1 moreAlzheimer's disease (AD) has a presymptomatic course which can last from several years to decades. Identification of subjects at an early stage is crucial for therapeutic intervention and possible prevention of cognitive decline. Current research is focused on identifying characteristics of the early stages of AD and several concepts have been developed to that end. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is defined as a self-experienced persistent decline in cognitive capacity in comparison with the subject's previously normal status, during which the subject has normal age-, gender-, and education-adjusted performance on standardized cognitive tests. SCD is not related to current cognitive impairment, however it has been considered for its potential role as risk factors for AD. The aim of this study is to evaluate, through machine learning tools, the accuracy data, neuropsychological assessment, personality traits, cognitive reserve, genetic factors, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurodegeneration biomarkers, EEG and Event Related Potential recordings in predicting conversion from SCD condition, to Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD.
Masitinib in Patients With Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer DiseaseMasitinib is an orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets activated cells of the neuroimmune system (mast cells and microglia). Study AB21004 will evaluate masitinib as an adjunct to cholinesterase inhibitor and/or memantine in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Digital Detection of Dementia (D Cubed) Studies
Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)The specific aim of the pragmatic trial is to evaluate the practical utility and effect of the PDM, the QDRS, and the combined approach (PDM + QDRS) in improving the annual rate of new documented ADRD diagnosis in primary care practices.
Dexmedetomidine Transdermal Systems (DMTS) Treatment for Agitation Associated With Dementia of the...
AgitationThe primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of DMTS on frequency and severity of agitation associated with dementia of the Alzheimer's type, compared with placebo.