Dementia, Alzheimer Type

The goal of this experimental multicentric intervention study is to validate, in Italian, the dynamic Neurocognitive Adaptation (dNA) Scale, which has already been validated in English, among a healthy elderly population (aged 65 and older) residing in Italy and patients with dementia or Alzheimer's Disease. dNA is a questionnaire designed to assess both current and past levels of engagement in physical, cognitive, creative, and social activities. The study aims to recruit a total of 265 participants with mild cognitive impairment, subjective memory complaints, or dementia. These participants will be distributed among the 8 recruitment centers. Neuropsychological data, subjective measures, and MRI data will be collected and analyzed to address the following research questions: 1) Is there a positive correlation between scores on the dNA Scale and cognitive efficiency, as reflected in neuropsychological measures, such as episodic memory and executive functions? 2) Is there a correlation between dNA scores and improved functional connectivity within neural networks, such as the Default Network (DN)? Participants recruited at the participating clinical centers will undergo: * A clinical interview, during which demographic and medical history information will be collected. The dNA Scale will be administered, along with a questionnaire assessing adherence to dietary habits typical of a Mediterranean diet (14-Item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener; MEDAS). * A neuropsychological assessment, aimed at evaluating general cognitive function with a particular focus on episodic memory and executive functions. The following tests will be administered: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or, alternatively, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT); Trial Making Test (TMT) Form B; Digit Span Forward and Backward (WAIS or WAIS-III); and the Stroop Test. * Self-report questionnaires designed to assess depressive symptoms using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and anxiety symptoms using the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) (or alternatively the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI). Finally, the Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire will be administered to estimate Cognitive Reserve (CRIq). * Where available, MRI data previously acquired for clinical or diagnostic purposes will be included in the study and analyzed by the principal investigator.

Using a new formulation of rifaximin, a non-absorbable antibiotic, to test if it can affect microbes in the gut of patients with dementia favorably.

The goal of this observational study is to learn how daily emotional stress affects cognitive function and inflammation in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and older in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does daily psychological stress measured in real-time affect short-term and long-term cognitive function in older adults? Do pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as CRP, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α) mediate the relationship between emotional stress and cognitive decline? How do social support and social isolation influence cognitive function and inflammatory biomarkers over time? Participants will: Complete baseline surveys assessing depression, cognitive function, and personal characteristics Use a smartphone app to answer brief surveys about their emotions, cognitive performance, and social interactions 1-6 times daily for two weeks Wear a Galaxy Watch to track sleep quality, heart rate, and physical activity Provide blood samples for inflammatory biomarker analysis Return for follow-up assessments at 6 months and 1 year This study is part of an international collaboration to establish a Korean cohort comparable to the U.S. Einstein Aging Study, with the aim of developing culturally tailored dementia prevention strategies.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the use of a digital cognitive rehabilitation system named RICORDO, that is flexible and capable of adapting the rehabilitation pathway according to the needs and capacity of the patients will prove effective for subjects with Subjective Memory Complaint or with Mild Cognitive Impairment or with Mild Dementia. The main questions it aims to answer are: Will the RICORDO rehabilitation treatment, lead to an improvement in the global cognitive level? Will the RICORDO rehabilitation treatment lead to improved activation of participants in managing their own health and healthcare? Researchers will compare the multidomain cognitive rehabilitation strategy of RICORDO digital solution, with a standard paper pencil rehabilitation care (usual care). Participants will undergo a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation immediately before, immediately after and six months after the completion of the rehabilitation program. Both interventions, the experimental and the usual care, will last 5 weeks, with 3 weekly sessions of 45 minutes each and can be done autonomously by the patient at home.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if using deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the precuneus is feasible, tolerable, and potentially efficacious for memory in Probable Alzheimer's Dementia. Previous work studying rTMS in Alzheimer's is mixed, but recent work studying rTMS of the precuneus is encouraging for both its short-term and long-term effects. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Is deep rTMS of the precuneus feasible and tolerable in Alzheimer's? * Are there signs of positive brain changes in response to deep rTMS? * Is deep rTMS potentially efficacious for memory in Alzheimer's? Researchers will compare active stimulation to placebo stimulation while obtaining memory testing and measurements of the brain (imaging, scalp electrode measurements, bloodwork) to see if active treatment works to treat mild-to-moderate probable Alzheimer's Dementia. Participants will: * Engage with memory testing, brain scans, and bloodwork during a comprehensive assessment * Visit the clinic 3 times for 12 consolidated rTMS sessions, followed by 4 once weekly maintenance sessions * Be offered a full open-label active treatment course after completing their treatment course if they are initially in the placebo group

Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the most common causes of dementia in Singapore and the developed world, is a neurodegenerative disorder with high socioeconomic impact. Accumulation of neurotoxic proteins (ie. amyloid, tau) are purported to lead to neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction and cognitive decline. The available pharmacotherapy provide limited symptomatic control, modest effect on disease progression with significant risk of side effects. Patients with AD eventually run out of effective pharmacotherapy and deteriorate. Recent evidence implicated the glymphatic system, meningeal lymphatics of the brain, and downstream drainage to the cervical lymphatic system in the accumulation of neurotoxic proteins in AD. This presented the opportunity for extra-cranial intervention, and has since been demonstrated in preclinical models. Based on these development, Xie and colleagues pioneered the deep cervical lymph node to venous bypass (DCLNV-BP) procedure with very promising early outcomes. The observed improvement had been attributed to enhanced clearance of the neurotoxic proteins. Knowledge gap and clinical equipoise remain, and clinical trials are required to understand the safety, mechanism of action, patient selection, and long-term outcomes. In this proof of concept study, the investigators aim to assess safety and preliminary efficacy of DCLNV-BP in AD. An approach using objective clinical assessments, biomarkers and neuroimaging, to assess safety, evaluate preliminary efficacy and elucidate the possible mechanism underlying the observed effects, is undertaken. Since there are limited effective treatment for AD, this procedure is potentially ground breaking if it proves to halt progression or even improve patients' cognition, function and behaviour. Indirectly, this will have enormous health economic benefit for Singapore and the developed world that is facing the silver tsunami. Findings from this pilot study will lay the groundwork for future trials and research collaboration in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The purpose of this study is to scientifically validate the impact of music therapy on Alzheimer's disease (AD) by analyzing molecular biomarkers in salivary exosomes. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that carry molecular signals from brain cells, providing a non-invasive method to assess physiological changes.

This study seeks to explore the possible common pathogenesis of both cardiac amyloidosis and Alzheimer's disease, which can both be associated with amyloid deposits. Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans with amyloid tracers - a conventional tool for non-invasively imaging amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease - the research will extend this imaging methodology to the heart. The study will conduct additional PET/MRI scans of the heart in patients undergoing amyloid tracer PET scans for Alzheimer's evaluations. Each participant will also undergo an echocardiogram and a clinical examination of dementia. This could potentially enhance diagnostic practices in both cardiac amyloidosis and Alzheimer's disease.

The Plans4Care study is a research study funded by the National Institute on Aging (Grant# R44AG084365). The Plans4Care app is designed to help family caregivers address over 90 common care challenges such as behavioral symptoms (anxiety, agitation), functional changes and other concerns, and receive an action plan which provides easy-to-use non-drug strategies, resources, tips and education. The goal of the study is to evaluate whether using the Plans4Care app will help you feel more confident providing care to your family member with dementia, better understand dementia, and enhance your own well-being. You also have the option to talk with a care advisor who can practice use of strategies or address concerns you may have.

This is a human clinical study making a noninvasive measurement from a patient's eye to determine whether there is a quantitative difference in measurements between patients with and without the diagnosis of dementia.

The RAATE proposal is designed to determine the effects of physical activity on risk factors for Alzheimer's Disease in older African American adults. The study will compare a physical activity program to an active control group. There are three main objectives of the protocol: 1) to determine if a physical activity intervention tailored to older African American adults is effective in modifying cognitive function associated with Alzheimer's Disease, 2) to determine if a physical activity intervention tailored to older African American adults is effective in modifying brain function and structure associated with Alzheimer's Disease, and 3) to determine if a physical activity promotion intervention tailored to African American adults is effective at enhancing physiological parameters. The primary endpoints for the study are episodic memory and executive functioning. The secondary outcomes include anthropometry, blood pressure, brain activation, cerebral blood flow, volume of whole brain and white matter hyperintensities, cardiorespiratory fitness, objectively measured physical activity, circulating hormones, and telomere length.