Clinical Research Directory

Virtual-reality Exercises for Alleviating Attention Deficits in Patients With Acquired Brain Injury

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability with an increasing incidence, especially in young adults. Among the cognitive difficulties following brain damage, deficits in attention are frequent and pervasive, affecting between 46% and 92% of stroke survivors. The current project targets patients with acquired brain injury, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and brain tumor. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the use and the efficacy of a training program targeting attention and executive function difficulties, using gamified and digitized versions in virtual reality of standard cognitive exercises for patients with brain lesions.

Effects of Neurofeedback Training on Attentional Deficits in Patients With Acquired Brain Injury

The goal of this study is to investigate new neuromodulation therapies for attention deficits following acquired brain injury. Brain damage can affect various domains, including motor and cognitive functions. However, cognitive deficits have many consequences on the functionality and independence of patients, and attention is an essential requirement for most of daily activities. After brain damage, cognitive rehabilitation is generally the first treatment option for attention deficits. Some studies have shown that cognitive rehabilitation is sometimes not very effective. For this reason, new therapies such as neuromodulation techniques are being investigated. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive neuromodulation therapy involving a type of computer-based training and learning, and some studies have shown that it is a promising tool to treat cognitive deficits in patients with brain injuries. In the present study, the investigators will evaluate the effects of neurofeedback as a therapy for attentional deficits after brain injury. Participants undergoing neurofeedback and cognitive therapy will be compared to participants only receiving cognitive therapy.

Learning by Heart: The Effectiveness of an EF Training Program for Pre-schoolers With a Severe CHD

Advances in prenatal and neonatal care have improved outcomes in children with severe congenital heart disease (CHD). With the increase in survival, neurocognitive problems such as executive functioning (EF) impairments have become more apparent in these children. EF problems have cascading negative effects on a child's development. New insights in EF development suggest that in otherwise physically healthy young children, EF can be improved by training. In a pilot study funded by Stichting Hartekind, the investigators studied the feasibility of a personalized EF training program called 'Kleuter Extra' and the results were promising. Therefore, the current study will investigate the effectiveness of this program in 4-6-year-old children with severe CHD. The researchers will also explore interactions between the parent-child relationship and EF development of the child as psychosocial difficulties in these children and their parent(s) and/or caretaker(s) may impact EF-development. If found effective, EF training for children with severe CHD will improve their developmental outcome.

Analysis of the Impact of a Temporo-spatial Reorientation Tool on the Speed of Improvement of Confusional Syndrome

Confusion syndrome is defined by attentional disorders and disorganization of cognitive functions that are acute and reversible. There are patient-specific predisposing factors and precipitating factors. Elderly people, due to their comorbidities, are more at risk. Confusion syndrome affects approximately 23% of elderly patients in the medical department, 33% in the rehabilitation department and its occurrence is preventable in 30 to 40% of cases. The health expenditure generated by its occurrence was estimated at 182 billion dollars per year by combining the expenditure of 18 European countries in 2011. The occurrence of a delirium increases the duration of hospitalization, increases the risk of falls, loss of autonomy, can lead to an impairment of quality of life at 6 months and is linked to excess mortality. The gold standard for making the diagnosis of delirium is the use of the DSM-5 criteria, but their use is time-consuming and requires that staff be trained in their use. The 4 "A" test (tool to help identify confusional syndrome) can be used to monitor confusional syndromes; it has the advantage of being able to be taken in less than 3 minutes. Concerning the management of a confusional syndrome, a non-pharmacological multi-component approach is recommended as first line for its prevention but there is no treatment to date. A tool to help with temporo-spatial reorientation (La Rob'Gazette) has been set up in the Medical Care and Geriatric Rehabilitation (SMRG) departments of the HUS