Clinical Research Directory

Sleep Interventions and Neurocognitive Outcomes

This protocol focuses on the effect of sleep interventions on improving sleep and building cognitive/brain resilience in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and sleep disturbance. Two sleep interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) and acoustic slow-wave activity enhancement (SWAE), will be utilized in a pilot randomized clinical trial in which participants are randomized to different treatment groups (CBTI or SWAE). Participants will be assessed over a 6-month period in order to examine the impact of sleep treatments on neuropsychological outcomes and cognitively mediated everyday functioning.

Does Psilocybin Change Synaptic Density in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

The goal of this pilot, exploratory, clinical trial is to investigate the effects of psilocybin on synaptic vesicular density (SVD) as measured by the positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, 18F-SynVesT-1, in participants with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and healthy participants. The investigators hypothesize that SVD levels in the brain will be higher following the ingestion of psilocybin in comparison to placebo, and that increases in SVD will be associated with improvements in cognition. 10 participants (6 with aMCI, and 4 sex and age matched healthy volunteers) will: * Be randomized to receive either: 1. Two 25 mg macrodoses of psilocybin separated by 1 week. 2. Two placebo doses separated by 1 week. * Receive a baseline 18F-SynVesT-1 PET scan, clinical, and neuropsychological assessments. * Receive a 18F-SynVesT-1 PET scan one week after the last dose of treatment. * Depending on available funds, receive a third PET scan at any time within 4 weeks of the screening visit to quantify tauopathy with the \[18F\]T807 radiotracer. * Receive clinical and neuropsychological testing 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the last treatment. Researchers will compare placebo vs. experimental groups to see if psilocybin will increase SVD, and if increases in SVD are associated with cognitive improvements.

Training Response Artificial Intelligence Network (TRAIN)

This study will train a machine learning tool to predict response to a cognitive training intervention using baseline brain MRI sequences from older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Characterizing Variability in Hearing Aid Outcomes in Among Older Adults With Alzheimer's Dementia

This current translational project, funded by NIH, aims to better understand the impact of various signal modification strategies for older adults with Alzheimer's dementia and its potential precursor, known as amnestic mild cognitive impairment. The investigators hypothesize that adults with Alzheimer's dementia represent an extreme case of restricted cognitive ability, such that very low working memory capacity and overall reduced cognitive capacity will limit benefit from advanced signal processing. Thus, the investigators hypothesize that adults with Alzheimer's dementia will receive greater benefit from acoustically simple, high-fidelity hearing aid processing that minimally alters the acoustic signal.

Pathways Relating Amnestic MCI to a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury History

This study will probe if the biological changes in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are related to a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) using high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and blood-derived biomarker tools. Participants who Do as well as those who Do Not have a history of mTBI will be enrolled in the study.

Modified Ketogenic Diet in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairments

This clinical study aims to examine the effectiveness of a 12-week modified ketogenic diet (MKD) intervention, especially on cognitive functions, in individuals diagnosed with amnestic-mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and to compare the effects of control groups (passive or active). Accordingly, a sample of 36 older adults aged 65-80 years diagnosed with aMCI will be randomized into 3 different groups: passive control (without any intervention), active control (MIND: Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet) or intervention (MKD). They will be monitored according to targeted criteria throughout the 12-week study protocol. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does a 12-week MKD intervention improve cognitive functions in aMCI? * Does the effectiveness of the 12-week MKD intervention in aMCI (i.e., in terms of cognitive function, physical and functional measures, or metabolic/inflammatory biomarkers) differ from control groups? Expected from participants during the study protocol: * Participants assigned to the passive control arm are expected to come to the research center at the beginning (week 0) and end (week 12) of the protocol and participate in evaluations. * Participants assigned to the active control (MIND diet) or intervention (MKD) arm are expected to adhere to assigned dietary therapy, keep a weekly food diary, and have weekly phone calls or online meetings with the dietitian to follow up on the diet. These participants assigned to the diet groups are expected to come to the research center at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 to participate in the evaluations.

MRI Guided Closed-loop TMS-EEG

The goal of this interventional study is to develop an individualized approach using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in a high-precision manner. This approach will use TMS to modulate brain activity at multiple locations simultaneously. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalograph (EEG) will record the responses and guide the stimulation. Specifically, the placement and orientation of TMS coils will be tailored to stimulate the targeted functional brain areas informed by fMRI. To maximize the interventional effect, stimulation pulses will be delivered based on EEG oscillations.