Active clinical trials for "Neurocognitive Disorders"

This research aims to evaluate the ability of individual reminiscence therapy (RT), using a simple reminiscence format, to improve the overall cognitive function, memory, emotional status and quality of life (QoL) of older adults with neurocognitive disorders (NCD) attending social care and support services. A multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) is proposed in Azores archipelago with repeated measures (pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up). Intervention group will hold 26 individual RT sessions, twice a week for 13 weeks. Control group participants will maintain their treatment as usual. Make a subsample analysis of the main clinical diagnoses, and compare the results of sample and subsample with a previous study that had the same intervention protocol.

This multicentre study, with a randomised controlled repeated measures experimental design, will be conducted in several Portuguese institutions, which provide care and supportive services for older adults diagnosed with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), with an aim to assess the effect of individual cognitive stimulation (CS) on memory and executive functioning. Participants in the intervention group will attend 24 individual CS sessions, twice weekly for 12 weeks. Participants in the control group will complete their usual routines without any activity restrictions.

The investigators have designed an innovative proof-of-concept trial designed to provide data as to whether the treatment/rehabilitation efficacy and functional outcome of patients with organic brain syndrome are improved with intranasal inhalations of bioactive factors (BF), produced by autologous M2 macrophages (auto-M2-BFs). The rationale for this approach is the ability of central nervous system to repair and the important role of macrophages in the regulation of this process. It was found that type 2 macrophages have anti-inflammatory and reparative potential, whereas M1 cells possess pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic effects. Action of M2 macrophages is largely realized through the production a wide variety of bioactive factors (cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, neuropeptides, microvesicles etc) that inhibit inflammation, protect neurons from apoptosis, stimulate neurogenesis, the growth and remyelination of axons, the formation of new synapses and activate angiogenesis. This study uses auto-M2-BFs, as therapeutic agents and intranasal administration focusing on nose to brain transport, as a mode of delivery. Expected clinical effects in treated subjects: improvement of cognitive functions (memory, language, attention); correction of focal neurological deficit (paresis, spasticity, sensory disorders); reduction vestibular/ataxic disorders (vertigo, unsteadiness when walking); reduction of headaches; reduction of asthenia (weakness, fatigue); correction of emotional disorders (anxiety, depression).

This study investigates the effectiveness of computer-based cognitive training with or without transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in improving the functioning of older individuals with HIV-related cognitive dysfunction.

About 85% of patients with schizophrenia have cognitive impairments, executive functions being particularly affected. Executive dysfunction, and cognitive deficits in general, are important predictors of functional outcomes, including social problem solving, activities of daily living, life satisfaction, and the ability to return to work or school.The main objective of the current study is to examine the efficacy of group-based Goal Management Training (GMT) for patients with broad schizophrenia spectrum disorders or high risk individuals with executive deficits. The short term goals are to investigate whether GMT can improve participants' ability to organize and achieve goals in everyday life in addition to improving aspects of emotional health. A long-term goal would be to establish an evidence base for nonpharmacological interventions for patients with broad schizophrenia spectrum disorders or high risk for schizophrenia. Main research questions: (1) Does a RCT with GMT delivered to patients with broad schizophrenia spectrum disorders or high risk for schizophrenia result in improved executive functioning, measured by self-reported and/or objective measures of executive functions? (2) Does GMT result in improved goal attainment in everyday life, social- and real world functioning? (3) Does GMT have a positive impact on the patients' emotional health? (4) Are there specific characteristics in patients with broad schizophrenia spectrum disorders or high risk for schizophrenia that are associated with better treatment benefit from GMT?

HIV related cognitive impairment still occurs despite highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). HIV disease affects the brain in 20-40% of patients with advancing HIV disease; leading to varying degrees of cognitive impairment, recently termed HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). HAND may occur in patients who are virally suppressed in both blood and CSF. Patients with HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) who are virally suppressed in both their blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), whilst on a highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen may have significant cognitive improvement with HAART intensification with the medication Maraviroc; compared to those who remain on their existing regimen. This study will be a prospective, interventional, randomised and unblinded controlled clinical trial. The aim of this study will be to determine whether HAART intensification with the medication Maraviroc, leads to significant improvement in HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Patients with the recent progression (within 6 months) of HAND (validated by neuropsychological assessment) on HAART, who are virally suppressed (<50 copies per ml) in blood and CSF will be randomised to have their existing HAART regimen intensified with Maraviroc, or not. The control arm will remain on their medication regimen as prescribed. The target is to enrol 70 patients into the control group, and 70 patients into the Maraviroc intensification group. Patients will undergo baseline neuropsychological testing, MRI, blood tests, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests (via a lumbar puncture). The methods used to determine the effectiveness of adding Maraviroc, will include further neuropsychological assessment at 6 months, and neuropsychological assessment, MRI and CSF assessment again at 12 months. Neuropsychological testing completed at 6 and 12 months will be completed by a "blind assessor", in that they will have no knowledge of which arm (treatment or control) the participant is enrolled in. An evaluation (neuropsychological testing) will be performed should the patient deteriorate during the course of the study, as recognised by the patient's managing physician. At the end of the study protocol (12 months) the patient's HAART therapy will be managed by their primary physician.

Memory, attentional, and behavioural symptoms are the clinical hallmarks of Neurocognitive disorders (NCD) such as Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia indicate that Cognitive training may be offered to older adults with normal cognition and with mild cognitive impairment to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and/or dementia. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the health domain is progressively expanding. The Alzheimer Innovation Association have developed MeMo (Memory Motivation) a free web application that can be used at home by patients. The objective of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of employing the MeMo platform on cognitive performance in patients suffering from NCD.

The purpose of this study is to see if paroxetine and fluconazole are safe and effective as a treatment for problems with memory, concentration, thinking, and judgment in people who are infected with HIV. Paroxetine is an antidepressant approved by the FDA to treat major depression. Fluconazole is an antifungal medication approved by the FDA to treat fungal infections.

The overall objective of the proposal is to examine the association between depression and the newly reported "motoric cognitive risk" (MCR) syndrome, which is a pre-dementia syndrome combining subjective cognitive complaint (i.e.; memory complaint) with objective slow gait speed, in the Canadian population, with the baseline assessment of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). The Canadian and global population are continuously aging. Moreover, the number of individuals affected by dementia is on the rise. One good predictor of dementia is Motoric Cognitive Risk (MCR) syndrome. MCR syndrome is a highly prevalent, newly defined syndrome that combines slow gait and subjective cognitive complaint. Depression is also highly prevalent in the older population and can affect both cognition and gait. Thus, an overlap between MCR and depression is possible. Yet few studies have examined the association between MCR and depression, thus emphasizing the importance of further investigating this association. This project encompasses determining the association of MCR syndrome with depression in the Canadian context as a step to better understand MCR syndrome in Canada.

The Innovative Support for Patients with SARS COV-2 Infections Registry (INSPIRE) study is a CDC-funded COVID-19 project to understand the long-term health outcomes in recently tested adults, both negative and positive, who have suspected COVID symptoms at the time of their test. Participants will complete short online surveys every 3 months for 18 months, share information about their health using a secure web-based platform, and are compensated for their time.