Active clinical trials for "Dementia"

To evaluate the efficacy of choral singing in the prevention of dementia and examine the underlying mechanisms using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique and a panel of peripheral biomarkers in venous blood and urine. The investigators hypothesize that Choral singing could prevent cognitive decline among community-dwelling elderly who are at high risk of dementia. The underlying neural mechanisms involve the changes in brain structure and function that can be quantified using MRI technique. The changes in cognitive outcomes will be accompanied by observable changes from a panel of carefully selected peripheral biomarkers.

This retrospective study is a more extensive, confirmatory analysis of the cognitive and functional outcomes initially seen in 2 groups of MCI/dementia patients in Springfield, MA and compares specialized dementia care and a comprehensive treatment approach versus usual care delivered in a non-specialist setting. The first group of patients (n= 328) was seen by a dementia specialist, who utilized a standardized assessment and treatment protocol (CNS). This included comprehensive identification and treatment of hypoxia, sleep-disorders, and other cognitively-impairing metabolic conditions as well as maximally- dosed FDA-approved medications for dementia, depression, and PBA. The second group of patients (n= 280) was seen by non-dementia specialists in the community and received usual care which did not include comprehensive assessment or treatment of underlying metabolic derangements or maximal utilization of currently available medications. This study, evaluating date from a larger cohort (n>800) of specialist-treated cognitively-impaired patients, will further examine the hypothesis that a comprehensive dementia treatment protocol yields cognitive stabilization and/or improvement using already available dementia drugs when compared with usual community care.

This study aims to experimentally evaluate the training program for family caregivers of people with dementia_"Living together with Dementia."

Longitudinal observational study of cognitive functions, physical health and biological parameters in the whole population living in Abbiategrasso born between 1935 and 1939,1773 subjects, followed for six years in order to know the prevalence and the incidence of dementia and risk and protective factors of normal and pathological mental aging. The peculiarities of this study that must assure the outcome efficacy are: Selected age: since 70-75 years old people represents a transition age from adulthood to old age, it is of special interest to study the evolution of psychic and physical functions of this population Whole population not a sample study Location: the small area involved (Abbiategrasso is a town of 30.000 inhabitants)can contribute to guarantee more homogeneity among the subjects and reduce undesired variability multidimensional assessment(biological, clinical, social, psychological data collected) After initial screening, the recruited population will be followed up for two more times (every two years )

A randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial to evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with early dementia.

The LifeZig Project is a research study of a new reminiscence activity for individuals with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other types of dementia, based on the LifeZig system, with personalized video channels containing old photographs and music on television. The goal of the LifeZig study is to enhance the quality of life for dementia patients and their families/caregivers, decrease the burden of care, and contribute to positive interaction between dementia patients and families/caregivers.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate change of cerebral glucose metabolism by donepezil therapy and to associate change of glucose metabolism and symptoms.

The Aricept® Evess study is a prospective, non-comparative, non-interventional study on use of Aricept® Evess in the treatment of out-patients with AD and Vascular Dementia. The 24 week length of the study aims to collect data from a large number of patients (n= 400) on the safety and efficacy at the usual dosage of the product providing an overview of Aricept® Evess profile.

In France, about 1 million people 65 and older are diagnosed with dementia syndrome characterized by cognitive decline and impairment of functional capacity. The assessment of the level of functional autonomy is therefore an essential step in monitoring patients in Memory Clinic and can be estimated by the Lawton IADL questionnaire, assessing the patients' ability to perform daily tasks. In the Memory Clinic, the first estimate of the level of patient autonomy is achieved during a face-to-face interview between their primary caregiver and a nurse, using the IADL questionnaire. This assessment should be renewed every year. The IADL questionnaire is part of the information that the memories consultations shall transmit to the Alzheimer's National Bank (BNA). However, current practice has shown that the systematic collection is problematic in the organization of Memory Clinic. It is thus expected to collect this questionnaire by phone in order to measure changes in the level of autonomy during the disease, and improve the completeness of this collection. A study is conducted with the main objective to measure the reliability of the assessment of IADL questionnaires conducted during a telephone interview with the caregiver of the patient, in comparison to the reference mode: the face-to-face interview with the caregiver. Materials and methods The experimental design of the study will be a randomized crossover trial (crossover), including 394 patients divided into two branches. In the first part, the collection of the IADL questionnaire will be performed according to the reference method in the consultation (face-to-face interview with the nurse), the measurement will be repeated at 1 month intervals by phone. In the second part the sequence of execution modes will be reversed. The reliability of the measurement of the level of autonomy will be studied by comparing repeated measurements based on handover modes. The correspondence between the repeated measures will also be considered in terms of patient characteristics. The feasibility of administration of the questionnaire by phone mode will be evaluated. Expected results The mode of administration by phone should allow to obtain a reliable measurement of the level of patient autonomy when the administration is carried out in a standardized way. The study should also identify patients and situations for which this method of administration by phone may be appropriate.

Agitation/aggression is one of the most common and serious behavioral complications of dementia. If the behavior is refractory to standard care (behavior approaches and off label use of psychotropic medications), other evidence based treatment options are not currently available. Retrospective reviews and preliminary studies have indicated Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) may be a safe, effective intervention in this patient population. This study will measure the impact of open-label ECT on symptoms of agitation, aggression, cognition, mood and psychosis for patients referred for ECT who accept this intervention vs. those patients referred for ECT but decline this intervention (i.e. standard care controls). It will also assess adverse events, activities of daily living and caregiver burden during study participation. The hypothesis is that subjects with dementia related aggression/agitation who receive ECT will show significantly greater reductions in these behaviors than subjects who do not consent for ECT and continue with standard care. Pine Rest is partnering with McLean Hospital (Massachusetts) to answer this question. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study to examine whether patients receiving ECT or standard care differ in reduction of aggression and agitation symptom severity and changes in cognition pre- and post- treatment.