Assessing Feasibility of Prolonged Repetitive Near Infrared Light Stimulation in Early to Mid-Stage...
Mild to Moderate DementiaThis study will gather data to see if infrared and near infrared light frequency can increase the activity of brain cells and provide support for the cell's ability to repair and protect themselves against further damage.
A Study to Evaluate Temporary Blood Brain Barrier Disruption in Patients With Parkinson's Disease...
Parkinsons Disease With DementiaThe goal of this prospective, non-randomized, single-arm, feasibility study is to develop data to evaluate the safety and initial efficacy of this treatment (temporary disruption of the BBB) using this ExAblate Model 4000 Type 2 System in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson´s Disease Dementia
Health in Aging, Neurodegenerative Diseases and Dementias In Ontario
Neuro-Degenerative DiseaseDementiaThe Health in Aging, Neurodegenerative Diseases and DementiaS in ONTario (HANDDS-ONT) Study is an observational study that takes place in the comfort of participant's home, with no study visits occurring in a clinic. The study is recruiting people living with a neurodegenerative disease or the effects of stroke, along with healthy, aging individuals. Studying both groups will help ONDRI researchers to: understand how the diseases affect different people discover ways to potentially detect diseases earlier find ways to help people manage their daily health related behaviours Participant data is collected virtually through wearables - small sensors worn on the wrist, ankle and chest -- for 7-10 days, as participants go about their daily activities. Data is also collected from questionnaires regarding mood and quality of life. Blood samples will be collected to understand how one's genetic makeup could provide for earlier detection of some conditions, and for analysis of certain risk factors. Combining the information from the sensors (walking patterns, sleep, heart rate/rhythm, etc.), the questionnaires and the blood samples will allow researchers to better understand aging, with and without a neurodegenerative condition, over a period of time. Participants will receive a personalized health and activity report, describing sleep and activity during the time the wearable sensors were worn. This information may help participants better understand and manage some aspects of their overall health and it can be shared with their circle of care.
Multicomponent Exercise in People With Dementia
DementiaPeople with dementia shows a decline in cognition, such as memory, executive function (EF), language, attention, and spatial orientation that is significant enough to interfere with the independence and daily functioning. Previous studies reported that multicomponent exercise improved EF in people with mild cognitive impairment and independence of ADL in those with Alzheimer's disease. However, few studies investigated whether multicomponent exercise improved EF, memory, and ADL in people with dementia. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to examine 1) the effect of multicomponent exercise on EF, memory, and ADL in people with mild to moderate dementia; 2) the correlation between change in EF and ADL; 3) the correlation between change in memory and ADL.
The Dementia Symptom Management at Home Program Hospice Edition
DementiaAlzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (dementia) poses a significant challenge to our public health. While many persons with dementia are cared for by friends and family in the community with the assistance of home healthcare and hospice, most clinicians and agencies are ill prepared to care for this population and therefore have difficulty assisting patients and caregivers in maintaining quality of life leading to adverse patient outcomes, increased caregiver stress and burnout, and healthcare utilization. This study will utilize a cluster randomized controlled design with 6 care teams at a single study site to examine the ability of a multi-component evidence-based practice hospice care quality improvement program for registered nurses, social workers and chaplains to improve the quality of life and reduce healthcare utilization for persons with dementia and their informal caregiver.
Music Therapy to Promote Emotion and Cognition for Dementia
DementiaThe purpose of this study is to determine if the effects of music therapy alter emotion and cognition performances of individuals with mild to moderate dementia. The music therapy intervention protocol is structured by drum improvisation, rhythm imitation, music cognition and song discussion. Attentive listening and active participation of the music training activities allow participants to utilize their focus of attention and comprehension of informational texts. Music therapy intervention is proposed to provide positive stimulations on emotion and cognitive functions of individuals with dementia. The results of the present study will clarify relationship between the effect of music therapy and the neural substrate of music therapy in anatomical and functional brain data obtained from MRI (fMRI).
Study of Depakote for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia
DementiaThis prospective, naturalistic, open label study will test the hypothesis that Depakote is correlated with a reduction in elevated Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Index (CMAI) verbal and physical agitation and aggression scales over a 6-week period among patients with elevated scores on those scales, and that these positive results can be achieved with fewer side effects than with other agents. In addition, patients will be rated with respect to changes in the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) at baseline, week 1, 3, and 6 and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) at baseline and week 6.
Evaluating the Effects of Music Interventions on Hospitalised People With Dementia
DementiaAlzheimer's Disease3 moreDementing syndromes are, for the most part, incurable. People with dementia become highly dependent and frequently have to move from their homes into residential aged care facilities. Medications aimed at reducing the severity of a number of symptoms associated with the different types of dementia have had only modest success. Increasingly, people with dementia, their families and carers are turning to supplementary or alternative approaches to the management of their symptoms. There are many published reports describing the successful use of music therapy in reducing the severity of many symptoms of dementia. These include reports of improved memory, improved language skills, reduced anxiety and depression, reductions in agitation and disruptive behaviours and better social relationships with family, peers and carers. However, the quality of evidence they provide for the most part fails meet the standards of evidence required by health care providers. This clinical trial will examine the effects of a music therapy intervention. The study will recruit 180 patients in sub-acute hospital wards. Participants will be randomly placed in groups that receive either occupational therapy or music therapy. Before the therapy programs begin, we will use questionnaires to measure memory function, language ability, orientation and mood. We will also record brain activity from the surface of the scalp, blood pressure and pulse to examine physiological responses. The same measures will be repeated after the 3 weeks of therapy to determine whether there has been any improvement in the symptoms of the participants and whether the group that had music therapy showed greater improvement than the group that had occupational therapy. We will make a video recording during one therapy session to allow us to observe levels of engagement and to assess changes in facial expressions. This will provide information about the immediate effects of music on mood and social interaction. The information we collect about brain activity and blood pressure will help us to understand how music therapy might bring about changes in the symptoms of dementia. This understanding will be useful in developing better applications of music therapy. It will also add to our current knowledge about how the various diseases cause the problems they do. In summary, the primary aim of the project is to determine whether the reported effects of music therapy are supported by objective evidence.
Efficacy Study for Treatment of Dementia in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Progressive Supranuclear PalsyDementiato show that patients improve and stabilize after 12 -24 week treatment with rivastigmine in memory function use of rivastigmine has a positive effect on apathy in PSP patients therapy with rivastigmine has a no positive benefit on speech and overall results of the MMST changes in motor activity are associated with changes in language and overall results of the in MMST
Brain Fitness APP for Cognitive Enhancement
Mild Cognitive ImpairmentAlzheimer DementiaMemory and cognitive declines are associated with normal brain aging but are also precursors to dementia, in particular the so called the pandemic of the century, Alzheimer's disease. While currently there is no cure or "vaccine" against dementia, there are hopes to delay the onset of the disease by living a brain-healthy life style. The proposed research offers a novel approach to prevent dementia and age-related cognitive disorders. We propose to use our developed brain fitness APP for the aging population with dementia. The proposed APP is based on the premise of brain plasticity, and targets the brain functions that are declining with normal aging and dementia. In a pilot study, we showed very positive effects of our custom designed brain exercises to strengthen left-right side brain connectivity in older adults when used regularly. Leveraging our previous design, we have developed an end-user product with additional features and enhanced user interface and user experience that will allow it to be used for neuro-cognitive rehabilitation by an individual without supervision The proposed APP will be tested on 30 individuals with cognitive impairment. Additionally, participants can receive an optional electrical stimulation called transcranial alternating current stimulation. This applies an alternating current to a person's brain by two electrodes placed on the scalp. The participants, who choose this option, will receive simultaneous stimulation during the brain exercise tutored sessions. Studies have shown that simultaneous application of the electrical stimulation and cognitive exercises further enhances the cognitive function by boosting the working memory improvement. Thus, this may lead to further improvements from any potential positive effects of the brain exercises. We anticipate the frequent use of the proposed APP will help to slow and even reverse the progression of the cognition decline in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.