Active clinical trials for "Cognitive Dysfunction"

Alzheimer's disease and its preclinical stages are characterized by progressive neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampi and default mode network resulting in dysfunctions in episodic memory and its central part the associative memory. Associative memory allows for learning and remembering the relationship between unrelated items. Previous research suggests that non-invasive brain stimulation can influence associative memory but with the caveat of quite a small precision and relatively small effects due to the ability only influence superficial brain areas. Novel Brain stimulation techniques such as temporal interference stimulation (TIS) allow overcoming these caveats by allowing focal non-invasive deep brain stimulation. The main goal of this pilot clinical trial is to modulate associative memory among healthy seniors by influencing the cortico-hippocampal circuits using TIS. Secondly, the goal is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and EEG to explore the neural correlates of TIS effects on brain networks and find biomarkers that allow predicting better response to brain stimulation.

The MyBrain study investigates the brain function of children, adolescents and young adults during and after chemo treatment for cancer. The tests include 1) cognitive skills such as memory and attention; 2) the brain's electrical activity; 3) and biological markers related to brain function. The aim of the study is to better understand the trajectories of cognitive functioning and measures that have been associated with cognitive impairment in patients treated with chemotherapy.

The overall aim of this pilot study is to investigate the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers after cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)-related and hypertensive arteriopathy (HA)-related intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in relation to cognitive decline. The results from this pilot trial will be used to design a larger cohort study to investigate underlying mechanisms of cognitive decline after ICH. The study population consists of 32 patients; 16 patients with CAA-related ICH and 16 patients with HA-related ICH who are 55 years or older. Data will be collected at four measuring points: at baseline (during hospital admission for the ICH or at the outpatients clinic within one month of presentation with an acute ICH), after three months, after six months and after 12 months. Premorbid cognitive functioning will be assessed with the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) to select participants without pre-existing cognitive impairment.

The purpose of the study is to better understand the biological mechanisms of carbon dioxide (CO2)-induced cognitive impairments.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in cognitive performance in the early postoperative (1 month) and late (1 year) postoperative period in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (SVAo) with surgery (SVA_Q) or transcatheter aortic valve implant (TAVI), by neuropsychological study (NRP), structural Brain Magnetic Resonance (sMRI) and functional MRI (fMRI). The specific objectives are: (1) to compare the early and late clinical-functional consequences with NRP study in both groups; (2) to compare the occurrence of cerebral clinical events during follow-up; (3) to quantify and compare the appearance of silent lesions in the early postoperative period and late of SVAo with sMRI with respect to the baseline MRI in both groups; (4) study with fMRI changes in the activity and functional connectivity and correlate them with the NRP findings in all patients in the early and late phase in comparison with the basal MRI. METHODOLOGY: Prospective longitudinal, unicentric, nonrandomized cohort study of consecutive patients> 70 years, with indication for SVAo and intermediate and high surgical risk. One month before surgery will be performed an sMRI and fMRI and a baseline NRP study. One month after surgery, sMRI, fMRI and NRP study will be performed to assess the appearance of new lesions, as well as changes in cognitive performance with respect to baseline cognitive status. One year later, sMRI, fMRI and NRP study will be performed to assess changes in cognitive status with respect to baseline and early postoperative. Response variables: changes in cognitive performance measured by a Global Cognitive Impairment Index and in cognitive status (normal vs. Mild Cognitive Impairment vs Moderate Impairment), number, size and location of new silent brain lesions, cerebral vascular clinical events, and changes in advanced neuroimaging (image by diffusion tensor (DTI), resting-state fMRI) and its relationship with cognitive changes.

Investigators propose to study youth across the spectrum of body mass index (BMI) and dysglycemia. This approach will allow investigators to disentangle the relationship of key features of type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk (e.g. obesity) with intermediary physiologic changes (e.g. insulin resistance, inflammation, β-cell dysfunction and dysglycemia) that pose a risk for the brain. Investigators will determine which of these factors are most associated with differences in brain structure and function among groups, over time, and how these effects differ from normal neurodevelopment.

Individuals with mild cognitive impairment are often physically inactive and at risk for progressing to dementia. Physical inactivity is considered a modifiable risk factor for dementia. Therefore, interventions must be developed to foster sustainable improvement in daily physical activity. To address this problem, our pilot study aims are directed at assessing the feasibility and preliminary improvement of physical activity following the use of a mobile-health technology physical activity behavior change intervention. Similar interventions have shown to be very effective in older adults without cognitive impairment. We specifically focus on the subtype of amnestic mild cognitive impairment since this subtype often progresses to Alzheimer's Disease, a leading cause of death in the US. Improving physical activity is one approach to reduce the progression to Alzheimer's Disease and subsequently lower mortality. To increase the impact of the intervention, participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment will be recruited along with a primary caregiver (dyads). Thirty dyads will be recruited and randomized to either an intervention group (15 dyads) or usual care group (15 dyads). The intervention group will receive a 12-week mobile-health technology physical activity behavior change intervention structured to improve physical activity. The intervention is unique in the combination of established behavior change theories and techniques and remote delivery for individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. This pilot study is designed to assess the feasibility of the intervention by examining participant and primary caregiver retention, intervention session attendance, intervention acceptability and safety, and qualitative perspectives. Secondly, this pilot study will assess preliminary improvement in physical activity (i.e., daily steps). Improvement will be determined based on significant changes in participants' daily steps observed via accelerometry post-intervention in the intervention group compared to the usual care control group. The results of this study will support future work (K-award and R01 submissions) to explore efficacy and larger-scale implementation to reach rural and underserved areas of Nebraska and beyond.

This study will use an observational cohort to cross-sectionally and longitudinally relate vascular health to clinical, imaging, and biological markers of early Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disease among aging adults. Adjusting for relevant clinical covariates, we will test the hypothesis that vascular health is associated with clinical, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neuropsychological, and cerebrospinal fluid markers of early cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's disease changes (i.e., prior to the onset of significant cognitive decline or dementia). Secondarily, we will examine medical and genetic factors that might mediate associations between vascular health and brain aging, such as inflammatory processes, insulin resistance, and genetic factors (e.g., APOE, a susceptibility risk factor for dementia). Findings will advance knowledge regarding the role that vascular health plays in brain aging.

Approximately one-fifth of community dwelling older adults exhibits mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and despite this being an early caregiving role, assisting a person with MCI is stressful and challenging. The purpose of this study is to develop and pilot test a communication-based psychoeducation program for persons with MCI and their care partners to improve their interpersonal management of MCI. The study team will be recruiting 30 adults throughout the US, though predominantly in GA, to serve on a virtual advisory board, which will meet every other week via webinar software to develop a virtual psychoeducation program for care partner dyads.

The team "Cognitive intervention, cognitive reserve and brain plasticity", Team 10, is part of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). The team's aim is to develop and test a multi-faceted intervention program meant to increase cognitive and brain reserve by providing cognitive stimulation through participation in cognitive training sessions and engaging leisure activities. This will be done with a partially randomized controlled double-blind preference trial with a comprehensive cohort design, in participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) recruited in Montreal and Toronto.