Preventing Cognitive Decline With Metformin
Cognitive DeclineA randomised control study of metformin in people with mild cognitive impairment and without diabetes mellitus to determine effects on cognitive decline and neuroimaging over 3 years.
Dopaminergic Dysfunction in Late-Life Depression
Late Life DepressionCognitive Decline4 moreLate-Life Depression (LLD), or depression in older adults, often presents with motivational deficits, deficits in performance in cognitive domains including processing speed and executive dysfunction, and mobility impairments. This triad of findings implicate dopaminergic dysfunction as a core pathophysiologic feature in depression, and may contribute to cognitive decline and motor disability. Normal aging results in brain-wide dopamine declines, decreased D1/D2 receptor density, and loss of dopamine transporters. Although brain changes associated with depression and aging converge on dopamine circuits, the specific disturbances in LLD and how responsive the system is to modulation remain unclear. In this study, investigators are testing integrative model that aging, in concert with pro-inflammatory shifts, decreases dopamine signaling. These signally changes affects behaviors supported by these circuits, in the context of age-associated cortical atrophy and ischemic microvascular changes, resulting in variable LLD phenotypes. Investigators propose a primary pathway where dopaminergic dysfunction in depressed elders contributes to slowed processing speed and mobility impairments that increase the effort cost associated with voluntary behavior. The central hypothesis of this study is that late-life depression is characterized by dysfunction in the dopamine system and, by enhancing dopamine functioning in the brain. By improving cognitive and motor slowing, administration of carbidopa/levodopa (L-DOPA) will improve depressive symptoms.
Effects of Square-stepping Exercise on Frailty and Cognitive Function in Elderly With Frailty and...
FrailtyMild Cognitive ImpairmentThis is a single-blinded, randomized controlled trail with pre- and post-measurements. The inclusion criteria are: (1) age between 65 to 90 years old, (2) the presence of at least one of the 5 physical characteristics defined by Fried, (3) with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score≧24 and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) score < 26, and (4) ability to walk independently for 1 min without assistive devices. The exclusion criteria are: unstable physical condition, any neurological, psychiatric disorder, or diagnosed with learning disability which may affect participation in this study. Twenty-eight elderly will be recruited, and randomly assigned to one of two groups: square-stepping exercise (SSE) group (n=14) or control group (n=14). The intervention for both group will be 50 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. The primary outcomes include frailty status indicated by Fried frailty criteria, and global cognitive function indicated by MoCA score. Secondary outcomes include frailty and MCI reverse rate, attention and memory, executive function, physical performance, and brain activation.
TMS in Preclinical and Prodromal AD: Modulation of Brain Networks and Memory
Alzheimer DiseaseMild Cognitive Impairment1 moreThe purpose of this study is to assess the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on memory in cognitively unimpaired older adults and in patients amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study will use repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to stimulate nodes of the Default Mode Network (DMN)- which is thought to support episodic memory and to be affected by Alzheimer's pathology. We will use functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) to assess changes in functional network architecture following the stimulation. We will also assess putative cognitive improvements resulting from the stimulation by in-depth memory testing.
Neuroimmune Dysfunction in Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol DrinkingAlcohol-Related Disorders14 moreThe objective of this proposal is to advance medication development for alcohol use disorder by examining the efficacy and mechanisms of action of minocycline, a neuroimmune modulator, as a potential treatment. This study has important clinical implications, as the available treatments for alcohol use disorder are only modestly effective and testing novel medications is a high research priority.
Technical R&D and Demonstration of Intelligent Medical Care in Alzheimer's Disease's Management...
Alzheimer DiseaseSubjective Cognitive Decline2 moreThis is a study on patient registry, and the sample size of this clinicaltrial is designed in group sequential design. According to the diagnostic criteria, the subjects are divided into SCD group, MCI group and mild dementia group. At the early stage of treatment, the investigators give participants transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation and music therapy according to the guidance of TCM syndrome differentiation. Participants can treat themselves at home after the investigators give them intelligent device and music,and according to the TCM syndrome score, neuropsychological scale, curative effect evaluation of daily life ability scale, determining the optimal comprehensive treatment plan,and phase in the treatment of participants with food, clothing, shelter, line, and life aspects of health education and guidance, a total of 24 weeks of treatment.
Modulating Cortical Dynamics of Dual-task Standing in MCI
AgingMild Cognitive ImpairmentThe investigators have designed a brain stimulation study to understand its effect on an individual's standing, walking, and thinking abilities in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairments (MCI). The transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) technology has been safely and effectively used in hundreds of individuals. The purpose of this study is to test whether a single session of tACS as compared to sham intervention, improves standing, walking, and thinking in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairments (MCI). Approximately 60 people will take part in this study.
Study of Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of NIO752 in Early Alzheimer's...
Alzheimer DiseaseMild Cognitive ImpairmentPhase 1b study to assess the pharmacodynamics, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of NIO752 in patients with early Alzheimer's disease (AD)
Arch Support Effects on Balance and Gait in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild Cognitive ImpairmentThis study aims to explore the effects of arch support insoles on balance and gait performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We will recruit 40 female older adults with MCI. A randomized crossover trial will be used to determine the immediate effect of arch support insoles. All participants received one assessment session wearing and one session not wearing insole in a random order within 1-day. Then participants will be randomly allocated to experimental group (arch support insoles, n=20) or control group (no insoles, n=20) for at least 4-h every day for 1-month. Our primary outcomes include static standing balance, timed-up-and-go test, 10-m obstacle crossing, functional reach test, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and gait assessment during single- and dual-task walking for 20 m at self-selected comfortable pace while performing serial subtractions (cognitive interference) or carrying a tray (motor interference). Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after 2-wk and 4-wk of insole wear. Statistical analyses will be performed using SPSS 21.0 software. Two-way mixed ANOVA will be used to determine the immediate and short- and long-term effect of arch support insoles. The results of the current study are expected to provide evidences in supporting the use of arch support insoles for improving gait performance and postural stability for older adults with MCI which will contribute to balance and gait training as well as fall prevention.
Metacognitive Strategy Training in Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment
Breast Cancer FemaleThe first aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of delivering CO-OP remotely to breast cancer survivors, who self-report cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), in preparation for a future R01 trial. The second aim of this study is to assess the effect of CO-OP on activity performance, subjective and objective cognition, and quality of life in a sample of breast cancer survivors who self-report CRCI. The research team hypothesizes that effect size estimations will indicate that CO-OP will have a greater positive effect, compared to attention control, on activity performance, subjective and objective cognition, and quality of life in a sample of breast cancer survivors who self-report CRCI.