Active clinical trials for "Dementia"

The PET tracer Fluoro-ethyl-methyl-amino-naphthyl-ethylidene-malononitrile ([F18]-FDDNP) has a specific affinity for lesions containing tau protein and beta-amyloid The study consists of two phases In a first transversal phase, 8 neurologically unimpaired controls, 15 patients with PD and no dementia (PDND) and 8 with PD and dementia (PDD) will undergo lumbar puncture for study of tau, phospho-tau and beta-amyloid levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as positron emission tomography (PET) with ([F18]-FDDNP. Concentration of CSF markers and both the degree and topography of FDDNP-PET uptake will be compared among groups, along with correlation analysis between CSF and PET findings. During the second phase (18 months follow-up), the PDND patients will undergo the same procedures, and cognitive changes including incident dementia will be assessed. The correlation between cognitive impairment and neurochemical and neuroimaging changes will be established to determine the predictive value of these markers. Since the pathological lesions observed in Alzheimer disease (AD) are common in the PD and the concentrations of tau and beta-amyloid are altered in AD and PET with [F18]-FDDNP is able to separate patients with AD and cognitive impairment from controls, we hypothesized that: - Patients with PD will show a biomarkers profile similar to the AD (decreased levels of beta-amyloid and increased phospho-tau and tau) in CSF, and an abnormal uptake of [F18]-FDDNP PET compared to PDND patients and controls. -The distribution of cortical [F18]-FDDNP in the PD will be different from the AD and similar to dementia with Lewy bodies, predominantly in posterior cortical areas. PDND patients will show a [F18]-FDDNP PET uptake and levels of protein markers in CSF intermediate between controls and patients with PD. -In the subsequent follow-up, PDND patients will show cognitive impairment correlate to changes in the levels of protein markers in CSF and uptake of PET with [F18]-FDDNP - The predictive value for the development of dementia in PD of specific patterns of PET uptake and CSF proteins profile will be established.

Phase III randomized controlled trial designed to test the effects of a 3-year intervention of the MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) on cognitive decline and brain neurodegeneration among 600 individuals 65+ years without cognitive impairment who are overweight and have suboptimal diets.

The study is designed to determine whether there are clinical features that can be used as biomarkers to predict whether underlying Alzheimer's pathology is the cause of a speech and language based dementia. The primary hypothesis is that the proportion of patients who test positive for beta-amyloid deposition will vary across different speech and language based dementias.

The study is designed to determine the diagnostic efficacy of the visual assessment of SPECT scans in differentiating between probable dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and non-DLB dementia subjects determined by the clinical diagnosis of an independent expert consensus panel used as the standard of truth.

The purpose of this clinical trial is to test whether or not the medication amantadine is effective in reducing behavioral disturbances in patients with frontotemporal dementia.

Tests will be performed in individuals with Alzheimer's dementia to compare dual-task and gait with healthy geriatric individuals.

Neuropsychological tests currently considered to evaluate the cognitive performance of the oldest-old population (more than 80 years) are not adapted to this group population. This trial aims to determine the normal limits for this group population of a set of 18 neuropsychological test. Results may improve the diagnostic cognitive evaluation of this population.

In Western Countries, stroke and dementia are the main causes of long-term disability, dependency, and nursing home admission. Due to demographic trends a continuous increase of patient numbers can be expected. There is growing evidence that vascular risk factors which are implicated in the etiology of stroke also play important etiologic roles in both vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease. The present project is aimed at the reduction of stroke and dementia by means of a systematic detection and subsequent treatment of vascular risk factors by the family doctor based on established guidelines.

The role of disorders of socio-emotional processes in cerebral diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, frontal temporal dementia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, focal lesions, has been recognized recently. Social cognition refers to a large group of emotional and cognitive abilities regulating inter-individuals relationships and it includes mainly theory of mind, emotional information processing and empathy. However, assessment of socio-emotional processes is still largely based on experimental tests that are not validated for clinical purpose. In addition their long duration of administration is not adapted to clinical examination. Finally these tests have not been standardized and normalized in French-speaking population.

Pain is common amongst people living with dementia. However, as people's dementia worsens their ability to self-report pain diminishes because of limitations in their cognition and communication abilities. As a result pain in people with moderate to severe dementia often goes under-recognised and undertreated. PainChek® is a technology-enabled, observational pain assessment tool, in the form of a mobile application designed specifically to assist healthcare professionals and professional caregivers assess pain in people with moderate severe dementia. In this study the investigators aim to assess the performance of PainChek® in assessing pain in nursing home residents with moderate to severe dementia compared to the Abbey Pain Scale.