Clinical Research Directory

Development of Measures to Screen for Financial Hardship in Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) are common and debilitating conditions. Financial hardship, a multidimensional construct of financial strain, financial stress and asset depletion, is common in AD/ADRD due to exorbitant out-of-pocket spending such as for long-term care, lower work productivity and income for their caregivers that can last for decades after disease onset, and difficulty deciding between nursing home care or home-based care while negotiating insurance coverage. People from historically marginalized groups can experience a double disparity with fewer financial resources to manage AD/ADRD and a greater risk of AD/ADRD. Screening for financial hardship in AD/ADRD is key for addressing the needs of patients and caregivers but critical barriers include a lack of suitable screening measures. Current measures are very general and meant for people without chronic medical conditions or are specific to other diseases. To fill this gap, this study will create a suite of measures that can screen for financial hardship in people with AD/ADRD and their families and caregivers. The measures will include a set to assess caregiver burden; a set to assess patient hardship as reported by the caregiver for patients who cannot report for themselves; and a set of patient-reported measures for patients that are able to report for themselves. To create these financial hardship screening measures, the project will conduct the following aims. Aim 1- Develop financial hardship screening measures for Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias: Using interviews with both caregivers and people with AD/ADRD, key indicators of financial hardship that are unique to AD/ADRD and the point in the lifespan in which it occurs will be identified. The ways that social and caregiver network size affect financial hardship will also be explored. Using the interviews and previous measures, preliminary measures will be created and will be reviewed by experts and a patient and caregiver advisory board. Aim 2- Create item response theory-based screening measures for financial hardship measures in Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias: Large samples of people with AD/ADRD (n=1000) and caregivers (n=1000) will be surveyed and item response theory will be used to evaluate and revise the measures and create scoring algorithms. A sample of additional caregivers matched to primary caregivers (n=400) will also be recruited to evaluate interrater reliability of the measures. Aim 3- Evaluate the financial hardship measures across patient and caregiver populations: Using the sample from Aim 2 and item response theory, we will evaluate the financial hardship screening measures across the following groups to ensure they are unbiased and reflect true differences: race/ethnicity; patient comorbidities; stage of AD/ADRD; caregiver relationship; social network size; number of caregivers; financial support provided; and caregiver's own health status (disability, comorbidities). The resulting measures will improve identification of financial hardship in AD/ADRD.

Cognitive Health in Ageing Register: Investigational and Observational Trial Studies in Dementia Research (CHARIOT): Prospective Readiness Cohort (PRO) Longitudinal Study

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative condition affecting the brain and is the most frequent form of dementia in older adults. Dementia is currently a major healthcare issue in the UK, affecting approximately a million people. The progression of the disease varies between individuals and the early stages may be characterised by only minimal changes in memory and thinking. These changes could remain undetected as the symptoms may be mistakenly regarded as normal age-related forgetfulness. However, dementia is not part of the normal ageing process. The disease process is now known to start at least 20 years prior to the emergence of symptoms. A protein called amyloid starts to deposit in the brain, forming clumps referred to as 'plaques'. Another protein called tau sticks to other tau molecules inside the brain cell and forms structures called 'tangles'. These changes cause damage to the brain cells, disrupting their normal functioning, leading to inflammation and ultimately destruction of the brain cells. So far, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but by better understanding the changes that occur over time in the brain, scientists can find ways of detecting and therefore diagnosing and treating the disease earlier. One way in which scientists learn about how a disease develops, is by following people unaffected by the condition over an extended period of time. The same tests and sample collections are repeated to monitor any clinical changes. These are known as longitudinal studies, and CHARIOT:PRO studies are examples of this. The CHARIOT:PRO Longitudinal Study (CPLS) is an observational study of 600 participants aged \>65 years old which aims to evaluate cognition (thinking abilities) and biomarkers (biological markers which indicate the presence of disease e.g. amyloid) over time in older adults. The participants in CPLS were all screened as part of the CHARIOT:PRO Sub-Study (CPSS1) in 2015-2017. Visit 1 will be conducted within eight weeks after the Study Entry Visit (SEV). Visits 2-7 will follow at six-monthly intervals from Visit 1. During visits, information relating to health, medication, family history of dementia, self-reported cognitive function and anthropometrics will be collected. The cognitive assessments PACC5 and RBANS will be administered along with a measure of executive function (Trail Making Test). Participants will be provided with self-reported questionnaires to be completed at each onsite visit. Blood samples will be taken once a year i.e. Month 0, 12, 24 and 36. The purpose of CPLS is to continue to build on the vital data and samples already kindly donated by participants screened for CPSS1. This will provide valuable information that will enhance understanding of the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease before obvious symptoms start to appear. Importantly, the Investigators hope to identify predictive markers of disease, which will help doctors to select the right drugs, and develop other approaches like lifestyle guidance to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease in the future. This study is sponsored by Imperial College London, led by the Principal Investigator Professor Lefkos Middleton and is funded by Gates Ventures.

Cervical Lymphatico-Venous Bypass for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease - Proof of Concept Study (CLyVeB-AD-1 Study)

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.

Improving Executive Control in Cognitively Healthy Older Adults: the MUltitasking STrategy (MUST) Study

Developing efficient cognitive intervention for cognitively health older adults is a major public health goal, due to its potential for reducing age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease/dementia risk. Executive Control is a relevant cognitive target since it declines with aging and is critical for multi-tasking in daily life. The proposed research investigates whether playing a web-based cognitive complex game (the Breakfast Game) impacts cognitive performance in cognitively healthy older adults. To be enrolled in the study, participants will be asked to undergo a cognitive sassessment, health questionnires, and a blood exam. The intervention consist in one educational session on healthy aging, and 10 one-hour cognitive training sessions 2-3 times a week over one month. Participants will be asked to repeat the cognitive assessment within 1-2 weeks after the intervention, and after three months.

VY7523-102: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multiple Ascending Dose Study in Participants With Early Alzheimer's Disease

This study is to be conducted in participants with early Alzheimer's Disease to test VY7523, a new drug being researched for treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. This study will look at how safe the drug is and how it works in the brain. It was first tested in normal, healthy participants who volunteered to participate. The study will look at three different dose levels, starting with the lowest dose first and moving to higher doses and more participants after safety has been reviewed by doctors and researchers. Some patients will receive drug while others will receive placebo. This will help to better compare how the drug works between participants receiving drug and placebo. The study will last up to 6 months for the lower dose groups and 12 months for the highest dose group.

Effects of Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) on Neurological and Cognitive Outcomes in Neurodegenerative Diseases

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation in improving neural function, cognitive and behavioral performance, and quality of life for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Using SRT to Improve The Drinking Problem Behavior of Elderly People With Dementia During The Care of Day Care

Objective: To explore the effects of intermittent retrieval training on cognitive function, daily water intake, body weight, total body water, drinking problem behaviors in day care centers, and caregiver distress in day care centers for elderly people with dementia. Methods: This study adopted a quasi-experimental research design with two groups of pre- and post-tests. The sample was recruited by convenient sampling. The experimental group was intervened with the intermittent retrieval training program to perform relevant drinking training, 40 minutes each time, 3 times a week, for a total of 8 weeks of intervention measures, while the control group was carried out with routine care for general drinking. Both groups collected pre-test data before the intermittent retrieval training intervention program in the first week, and conducted post-test data tracking and analysis in the 4th and 8th weeks after the intervention activities. The research tools included basic attribute data sheet, Chinese version of cognitive ability screening test (CASI), daily water intake, average daily water intake and drinking problem behaviors in the past week, body fat scale for measuring weight and total body water content, and day care center caregiver burden assessment scale. It is expected that this research intervention measure can improve the behavior of elderly people with dementia to drink water independently.

Radiolabeled TSPO Targeted Molecular Probe in Alzheimer's Disease.

Evaluate the clinical application value of the novel radiolabeled TSPO-targeted molecular probe Gallium \[68Ga\]-DOTA-HK-011 in neuroinflammation imaging of Alzheimer's disease.

VR-based Physical Activity and Reminiscence Therapy

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if active Physical activity + virtual reality cognitive therapy (aPAVRCT) works to slow the progression of AD cognitive decline in older adults. It will also learn about the physical effects and mental effects of the aPAVRCT. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does aPAVRCT slow the progression of AD cognitive decline? (e.g., HK-MoCA, ADAS-Cog) Does aPAVRCT improve physical function? (e.g., ADL) Does aPAVRCT improve mental health? (e.g., GDS-15, PANAS) Does aPAVRCT improve life satisfaction? Does aPAVRCT improve other cognitive or physical capacities? What issues and benefits do participants and stakeholders (e.g., families, caregivers, managers) have when taking aPAVRCT? (e.g., NPI-Q) Researchers will compare the intervention group (aPAVRCT) to a control group (rehabilitation bike) to see if aPAVRCT works to slow the progression of AD in cognitive decline. Participants will: Take aPAVRCT (interventional group) or usual physical acitvity (control group) at least twice a week, 15 minutes for each session, for 12-16 weeks Physiotherapies (assistants) and care professionals will do the intervention, research group will operate, observe, and assist the experiment. All the experiment processes will be recorded. Visit the sites everyday for checkups and tests Keep a diary of their symptoms, the number of times, and any essential information Sites: around 3-5 nursing homes, under one institution. Inclusion criteria: older adults in the setting who have the ability to pedal a rehabilitation bike.

Multimodal Ophthalmic Imaging and Plasma Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease

With the accelerating global aging population, dementia has become a pressing worldwide issue. This project aims to identify specific plasma biomarkers and ocular indicators for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Biomarkers in a Candian Memory Clinic

This is a prospective, observational, case control study in a real-world cohort of patients referred by a primary care physician to a tertiary memory clinic for cognitive concerns. This study's main objective is to determine the effect of using standardized criteria (based on eligibility for disease modifying treatment (DMT)) to triage patients towards biological staging of disease with biomarker testing.