Active clinical trials for "Cognition Disorders"

This observational cohort study in healthy volunteers establishes normative data for the German version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and investigates the possible impacts of demographics on the MoCA total score.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether cognitive disorders are a risk factor for a fracture after a fall independently of a bone fragility.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the depth of anesthesia with propofol affects the incidence of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction

In 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer first described the disease that later took his name. Today, 100 years later, 24 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. The term 'dementia' is clinical and is used to describe brain disorders that cause decline in mental functions, memory first and then speech, judging and overall behavior. Alzheimer's disease is by far the most common form of dementia, followed by vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy, the frontotemporal dementias etc. In Greece there are 141,000 patients with dementia. With increasing life expectancy, the figures are expected to increase dramatically in the future. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, as well as 50-60% of patients with dementia suffer from this disease. The second most common type of dementia is vascular, ie that associated with cerebrovascular disease and is the 15-30% of all dementia cases and is most common between the ages of 60-70 years and is more common in men than women. It is estimated that 5% to 8% of people over 65 suffer from dementia, while in industrialized countries ranges at the following levels :15-25% over 85 and 32% over 90 years. Dementia is characterized by a slow onset and progressive course. The syndrome includes disorders in general intelligence, learning and memory, problem solving, perception, judgment, executive function, language and synergy of movement, but without impairment of consciousness. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with distinct clinical and histopathological features, although with variations from person to person. In its early stages it is sometimes difficult to diagnose cognitive impairment from normal aging of the brain. With the passage of time, the continuous decline in recent memory, fluency, ability for spatial orientation ultimately restricts the autonomy regarding basic activities of daily life such as managing finances. The anxiety and depression complicate diagnosis in early stages, but gradually decline with loss of sensitivity. Intermediate stages of the disease require increasingly supervision in daily self-care activities, such as personal hygiene and clothing. In the advanced stages are usually essential nursing care in institutional context. The severity of symptoms of the disease varies and is determined by premorbid factors such as education, gender, cultural background. Epidemiological studies have shown as protective factors against the onset of dementia, higher education, taking estrogen and anti-inflammatory drugs. On the other hand, age, family history of dementia, head injury, hypertension and Down syndrome are risk factors for developing the disease. Finally, some genetic factors appear to be protective, and other pressures to the disease.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether pediatric anesthesia is associated with long-term hippocampal dysfunction

The purpose of this study is to see whether anti-HIV drugs that reduce HIV in the blood also reduce HIV in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is the fluid found around the brain and spinal cord. This study also looks at whether reducing HIV in the CSF can help protect brain function. HIV can be detected in the brain and CSF early in HIV disease. Anti-HIV drugs probably reduce HIV in the CSF. This may be important because other studies have suggested high CSF HIV levels may lead to some loss of brain function.

To investigate long term affects of multiple concussions on the cognition, balance, proprioception, and biomarkers in retired National Hockey League players

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common progressive neurologic disorder to occur in adults of working-age. Despite longstanding recognition of cognitive impairment as a symptom of MS, two obstacles in measurement have limited understanding its biological basis, and therefore identifying targeted options for management. First is the absence of a sensitive and precise measure of cognitive impairment. Second is the absence of an index of disease status linked to brain pathophysiology and cognitive performance. This project overcomes both obstacles to link cognitive impairment to MS disease biomarkers. The absence of a sensitive and precise measure of cognitive impairment, along with the absence of an index of disease status linked to brain pathophysiology and cognitive performance, limits the understanding of the biological basis for multiple sclerosis (MS). This project overcomes both obstacles to link cognitive function to MS disease biomarkers, and provides preliminary evaluation of a disease modifying therapy (Tecfidera) for preserving cognitive function.

Chronic rhinosinusitis presents with a plethora of symptoms including non-rhinologic symptoms such as depression, sleep disturbances & the more recently recognized cognitive dysfunction. It has recently been identified that sinus specific treatments such as endoscopic sinus surgery can improve cognitive outcomes in patients with cognitive deficit secondary to chronic inflammation in the upper and lower airway. However, it remains to be seen whether or not offering surgery to these patients at an earlier date has an impact on the degree of improvement on cognitive function in comparison to patients who have to wait long periods for their treatment.

People with schizophrenia tend to have problems with attention and concentration. Studies found that these patients are unable to block or gate out non-relevant and distracting information (e.g., noises). This may lead to brain overload. Cognitive abilities like concentration, memory, and learning may worsen. This ability to filter sensory information has been linked to a gene that affects the way nicotine acts in the brain. Patients with schizophrenia have a high rate of cigarette smoking. 60% to 90% smoke compared with 25% of the general population. It has been suggested that these patients may use nicotine to improve their ability to block out distracting information. Brain wave activity (EEG) in response to sounds has been proved useful in understanding this gating problem. The present study uses EEG measures and performance tasks to find out what a new nicotine-like treatment, which will be added to ongoing treatment medications, does to gating and cognition. It is hoped that this new treatment will improve the way in which patients process information, as this may help them in day-to-day activities.