Active clinical trials for "Aphasia, Primary Progressive"

The causes of neurodegenerative dementias such as Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Disease and Alzheimer's disease are still largely unknown. While the contribution of some genetic mutations and polymorphisms is associated with autosomal dominant patterns of inheritance of these dementias, in many cases, the specific causative mutation in these families is not yet identified. Further, in many patients, polygenic risk is thought to give rise to pathophysiologic changes, but which specific genes affect risk are largely yet unknown. By examining genotypes in patients that present to our Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Research Clinic with suspected or confirmed neurodegenerative dementia, or have a history of a familial dementia, we aim to help identify and characterize genetic mutations or polymorphisms that give rise to neurodegenerative diseases.

Damages in frontal area present in neurodegenerative disease (frontotemporal degeneration, frontal variant of Alzheimer disease) and in psychiatric disease (bipolar disorder) can affect behavior and cognition including social cognition. Symptoms vary both quantitatively and qualitatively from disease to another and from person to person. It cannot be completely excluded that in some cases, factors of susceptibility such as premorbid personality traits lead to frontal fragility. The study will assess the relationship between premorbid profile using NEO-PI 3 inventory and cognitive and behavioral/psychobehavioral manifestations in patients with behavioral variant of frontotemporal disorder (bvFTD), phenocopy frontotemporal dementia (phFTD), frontal variant of Alzheimer disease, bipolar disorder characterized with frontal damages.

This research study is being conducted to find out whether Trappsol® Cyclo™, an experimental treatment for people with Niemann Pick disease Type C (NPC-1) is safe at 2 different dose levels and what effects it has on people who have this condition. NPC-1 is caused by a defect in the protein which is important for the transport of fatty substances like cholesterol out of cells. Without this protein, fats build up in the cells ultimately leading to organ damage. The way in which this experimental treatment works is not fully understood but laboratory experiments have shown that it can potentially remove cholesterol build up from the cells in people who have NPC-1. Approximately 12 patients will be asked to take part in this research study for up to 20 weeks (w) in total (including screening. treatment and follow-up). Recruitment is expected to take 6- 9 months.Patients who take part will receive treatment by an intravenous infusion every two weeks. The study will look at what the body does to the drug as well as what the drug does to the body by taking and examining blood and urine samples. A sample(s) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) will be taken by lumbar puncture during the first treatment dose and may be collected during subsequent doses. Liver and skin biopsy specimens will be taken to assess filipin staining. Cholesterol metabolism will be investigated in liver samples and splenic and hepatic elasticity will be assessed by ultrasound. Patients will also have their hearing tested, be asked questions by their doctor as well completing questionnaires to help assess any changes in their condition during treatment.This study is being sponsored and funded by CTD holdings Inc. It is planned to be run in the USA,.

The Healthy Patterns Study intervention is a home-based activity intervention designed to improve symptoms of circadian rhythm disorders (CRD) and quality of life (QOL) in home-dwelling persons with dementia. We will use a randomized two-group parallel design of 200 people with dementia and their caregivers assigned to intervention or attention control groups.

Aims: The study will contribute to our understanding of how the cultivation of caregiver mindfulness might improve their overall relational well-being (Primary Outcome), their psychological well-being (Secondary Outcome), and have an impact on dementia patients' lifestyles (Other Outcome). Overall, this study will investigate the idea that the fruits of mindfulness training can be leveraged by both the caregiver and the care-recipient, improving the quality of relationship by making their interactions more mutual, connected, empathic and positive. This study aims to additionally elucidate which facets of mindfulness account for caregiver's happiness and psychological well-being. Sample: In this study 40 dementia caregivers will be recruited to participate; 20 will be allocated to the clinical intervention group (i.e., adapted MBSR for caregivers) and 20 to the active control group. Data will be collected pre-post the start of intervention, and at a 3 month follow up. Future orientation: This study may contribute to evidence-based knowledge concerning the efficacy of mindfulness based interventions to support caregiver empowerment, via regaining relationship satisfaction and achieving greater equanimity in the face of stressors.

Despite well-documented disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (AD) prevalence, incidence, treatment, and mortality, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (e.g. racial/ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged persons) are under-represented in clinical research. Existing research recruitment approaches are rarely designed to accommodate the priorities, concerns, and constraints relevant to participants from diverse backgrounds. To address these gaps, the investigators developed a research recruitment and engagement model, the Participant Oriented Research Engagement Model that centers and prioritizes relational aspects of research engagement, research participant needs, and systematically address socioeconomic determinants (i.e. unmet needs) that may limit accessibility of research. The investigators propose to test the effectiveness of the Brain Health Community (BHC) Registry recruitment and engagement intervention, as compared to standard research recruitment strategies in modifying enrollment rates, participant satisfaction, and engagement. The investigators hypothesize that the BHC Registry will yield greater enrollment rates, higher satisfaction, and better ratings of relational engagement.

The goal of this study is to examine the effects of auditory beat stimulation on anxiety in patients diagnosed with bvFTD. Main aims are: to ascertain whether anxiety in bvFTD patients can be modulated using auditory beat stimulation to investigate patterns of anxiety and mind wandering in bvFTD patient population Patients were asked to complete a number of questionnaires relating to well-being and mind wandering, as well as to listen daily to audio files of beat stimulation.

This study aims to develop and evaluate in-home assistive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in spousal and familial caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia.

The specific aims of this studyare to examine the 1) feasibility; 2) acceptability; and 3) preliminary efficacy of a tailored music intervention in home-dwelling older adults with dementia suffering from sleep disruption. Sixty dyads (older adults with dementia and their caregivers) will be randomized to receive the tailored music intervention immediately or following a four week delay.

This is a study on Internet-based video-practice speech and language therapy for persons with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), or related conditions.