Clinical Research Directory

Neurocognitive Assessment Platform 4 Alzheimer

The aging population in Europe is leading to an increase in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is expected to affect 152 million people worldwide by 2050. In Italy, there are approximately 1.2 million cases of dementia, with 600,000 attributed to AD. Given the limited effectiveness of current pharmacological treatments, there is a growing need for early, non-pharmacological interventions to slow disease progression and improve the quality of life for patients and caregivers. The Neurocognitive Assessment Platform 4 Alzheimer (NAP4A) study aims to create a digital platform for the early detection of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCIa), considered an intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia. The platform uses non-invasive biometric tools, including EEG, blood flow sensors, and eye-tracking devices, to collect neurophysiological and behavioral data. The study will involve 100 participants aged 55 to 80, divided into two groups: one with individuals diagnosed with MCIa and a control group of healthy participants. Over 12 months, regular assessments will be conducted to identify markers that predict the progression from MCIa to AD. The goal is to develop advanced diagnostic tools that support early and targeted interventions.

Effects of Photobiomodularion on Brain Connectivity and Cognitive Function in Cognitive Impairment

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM), a light-based brain therapy, can help improve memory and cognitive skills in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). This condition involves memory problems that are greater than normal aging and may increase the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Does t-PBM, when used together with cognitive training, improve memory and cognitive skills? 2. Does t-PBM change how certain brain areas communicate with each other, especially in the default mode network (DMN)? Researchers will compare: t-PBM plus cognitive training to sham (inactive) t-PBM plus the same cognitive training to see if the active light treatment leads to better cognitive improvement and healthier brain activity. Participants will: * Provide a blood sample so the research team can create a genetic profile; * Complete cognitive tests before and after the 4-week program; * Meet with a dietitian before and after the program so the research team can make sure diet stays consistent and does not influence brain results; * Have a brain fMRI scan before and after treatment to measure brain connectivity changes; * Take part in eight sessions of cognitive training; * Receive either active t-PBM or sham t-PBM during these sessions.

Targeting Cognition in Early Alzheimer's Disease by Improving Sleep With Trazodone

To investigate the effect of trazodone on sleep, hippocampal-dependent memory and hippocampal excitability. The investigators hypothesize that trazodone will improve total sleep time and proportion of time in Slow Wave Sleep (SWS).

Effects of Combined Aerobic and Cognitive Training in a Simultaneous or Sequential Paradigm on Cognition and Brain Functional Activity in Patients with AMCI

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a condition in which patients show an objective evidence of impairment in one or more cognitive domains but a spared independence in daily functional abilities. The cognitive domain which results to be the most impaired defines the clinical subtype. Specifically, the amnestic subtype of MCI (aMCI), which is the most frequent, is characterised by deficits in episodic memory and visuospatial abilities. Current literature reports that prompt and focused rehabilitation provided early in the disease course might slow down the development of the neurodegenerative condition. The coupling between cognitive and aerobic trainings is the most incisive non-pharmacological treatment, and its effects have been demonstrated to have an impact on global cognitive functions, quality of life, aerobic capacity, and mood in the elderly with aMCI. However, the best modality for coupling aerobic and cognitive trainings (i.e., whether sequential-SEQ: aerobic training followed by cognitive training; or simultaneous-SIM: cognitive training during aerobic training) is still unknown. The aim of the present study is to determine which modality, among SEQ or SIM, is the most incisive training in patients with aMCI. Using a Randomized Controlled design, the effect of this combined aerobic-cognitive non-pharmachological training in both modalities will be evaluated on cognitive changes assessed with standard and computerized neuropsychological batteries and in functional activity during a task-based functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scan.