Neurocognitive Effects of Non-Invasive Near-Infrared Light Stimulation
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderAttention Difficulties3 moreInattentiveness and impulsivity in healthy adults and individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diminish these individuals' quality of life. Cortical hypometabolism has been hypothesized to contribute to inattentiveness in ADHD. Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) is a safe and non-invasive modality for activation of the prefrontal cortex. tPBM in healthy adults has been shown to augment brain oxygenation, cognition, and mood. The cognition-enhancing effect of tPBM on sustained attention in adults with ADHD remains unstudied. The investigators will evaluate whether tPBM administration to adults with and without ADHD can improve their attention. Each participant will be screened for eighteen criteria based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV, text revised), using the validated instrument Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1). Blinded participants will be randomized into (I) Active-tPBM or (II) Sham-tPBM groups. After undergoing an 8-minute administration of Sham or 1064 nm tPBM to the lateral and medial right prefrontal cortex, each participant will complete a 14-minute, computer-based Conner's continuous performance task-3 (CPT-3). The investigators will examine whether adults with and without ADHD who receive Active-tPBM improve in measures of inattention, impulsivity, sustained attention, or vigilance compared to the Sham-tPBM group. Cognitive assessments of attention like the CPT-3 may evaluate the efficacy of tPBM to increase cortical metabolism in healthy adults and individuals with conditions like ADHD. The investigators anticipate their investigation will be a starting point for more sophisticated studies that focus on the implications of tPBM on cognition.
A Study to Evaluate RL-007 in the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment Associated With Schizophrenia...
Cognitive Impairment Associated With Schizophrenia (CIAS)Cognitive Impairment1 moreThe goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate if the investigational drug, RL-007, can improve the cognitive performance of subjects with schizophrenia. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Does RL-007 improve subjects performance in a set of cognitive tasks? Which dose of RL-007 (20 mg or 40 mg) has a larger effect on cognitive performance? How well do subjects tolerate RL-007? In the study, subjects will perform the cognitive tasks at the beginning to get familiar with the tasks. Then, subjects will be given either RL-007 or a placebo for 6 weeks and then repeat the cognitive tasks. The researchers will compare the results at the end of the treatment period to the baseline to see if there have been any changes in performance. Additionally, several safety measures will be collected throughout the study (blood pressure, physical exam, ECGs, etc) to evaluate if there are any side effects from taking RL-007.
Neuromodulation and Neuroimaging in Older Children With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain ConcussionMild Traumatic Brain Injury2 moreMild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often causes persistent motor and cognitive deficits in children resulting in functional limitations. We are testing a brain stimulation method along with evaluating objective tools to help record and restore communication among affected brain areas, which will facilitate recovery in youth after mTBI.
Computerized Cognitive Training in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment...
Mild Cognitive ImpairmentCoronary Heart DiseaseIn this study, a randomized controlled study based on cognitive training was conducted in patients with coronary heart disease and cognitive impairment but without dementia, to evaluate the effectiveness of computer-based digital therapy in improving the cognitive function of such patients.
Clinical Study of Angong Niuhuang Pill and Acupuncture on PSCI Angong Niuhuang Pill Combined With...
Post-stroke Cognitive ImpairmentPost stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) refers to the attainment of cognitive impairment after the clinical event of stroke A range of syndromes that impede diagnostic criteria. Epidemiologically, PSCI is one of the common complications in stroke patients
Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality-based Cognitive Remediation in Patients With Mood - or Psychosis...
Bipolar DisorderDepression4 moreThe goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effect of a four-weeks, intensive virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive remediation (training) programme involving simulated daily-life challenges on cognition and functional capacity in symptomatically stable patients with mood disorders (depression or bipolar disorder) or psychosis spectrum disorders (F20-F29; e.g. schizophrenia or schizotypal disorder). The investigators hypothesize that VR-based cognitive remediation vs. a VR control treatment has a beneficial effect on cognition after four-weeks treatment completion (primary outcome assessement time) measured with a novel ecologically valid VR test of daily-life cognitive functions (The CAVIR test; primary outcome measure), a verbal learning and memory composite score based on a traditional neuropsychological test and a performance-based measure of daily functioning (secondary outcome measures). Finally, for exploratory purposes, the study will examine neuronal underpinnings of treatment effects, and effects on additional measures of cognition, functioning and self-ratings scales (tertiary outcomes).
Home-based Cognitive Treatment and Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive ImpairmentThe prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is expected to increase over the next years, in parallel with the aging of the world population. Therefore, it is important to identify new methods to prevent, delay or stop the neurodegenerative waterfall responsible for dementia conversion. To date, there is no fully proven pharmacological treatment for cognitive impairment and the available pharmacological treatments have limited efficacy because consist in symptomatic drugs with adverse side effects. On this point, non-pharmacological intervention may represent adjunctive therapy to medications in order to prevent or delay the onset of the cognitive deficits or dementia. Recently we evaluated the effectiveness of a computerized cognitive training (CoRe) in patients with early cognitive impairment. The main goal of the present protocol is to evaluate the efficacy of the home-based version of CoRe (Home CoRe). To this end, mild dementia or early cognitive impairment, and persons with Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI) are enrolled and randomly assigned to the experimental group (Home CoRe) or control group (CoRe). All patients are evaluated before (T0) and after (T1) treatment with an exhaustive neuropsychological assessment. Furthermore, follow-up visits are scheduled 6 months (T2) and 12 months (T3) after the end of the treatment.
Uncovering a Novel Therapeutic Target to Reduce Dementia Risk in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson DiseaseMild Cognitive Impairment1 moreThe present study is a proof-of-concept clinical trial to test the efficacy of low doses of a repurposed anti-epileptic drug (levetiracetam) in treating memory problems in Parkinson's disease (PD). Neuroimaging techniques will be used to determine the effect of the drug on specific brain regions (hippocampal subfields). Finally, baseline brain activity of PD patients with memory problems will be compared to PD patients without memory problems and healthy older adults to determine if activity in specific brain regions (hippocampal subfields) can be used to predict memory problems in PD. This information will be useful for future clinical trials to target drugs to these brain regions.
Valacyclovir for Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild Cognitive ImpairmentHerpes Simplex 11 moreAnti-viral treatment in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a Phase II, placebo-controlled, 52-week trial using oral valacyclovir 4 g/day in 50 HSV seropositive, AD biomarker-positive, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients (eMCI and lMCI). The trial will directly address the long-standing viral etiology hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) which posits that viruses, particularly the very common herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV1) and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV2), may be etiologic or contribute to the pathology of AD. This trial will intervene at an earlier stage (MCI). We will compare the repurposed drug valacyclovir to placebo in patients with amnestic MCI (eMCI and lMCI) in a randomized, double-blind, two-arm parallel group 52-week pilot trial. Our Phase II trial will be the first antiviral drug trial conducted in MCI.
Cognitive Fitness for Depression in Older Adults
Depression MildDepressive Disorder2 moreThis research is being done to determine if computerized administered cognitive fitness activities will improve thinking and depression in older depressed adults who are being treated with antidepressants. The investigators are also interested in whether participating in the treatment will result in changes to brain activity measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).