Clinical Research Directory

Additional Effects of Immersive vr 360 Degree Videos With Aerobic Exercises on Cognitive Functions in Elderly With Mild Cognitive Impairment

One of the key challenges faced by individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is the decline in cognitive abilities, particularly global cognition, attention, and executive function, which are essential for maintaining independence and performing daily activities. Impaired cognition can significantly reduce quality of life in older adults, leading to difficulties in managing routine tasks, reduced social engagement, and increased dependency on caregivers. Common signs and symptoms include forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, slower problem-solving, and challenges in planning or organizing daily activities. This study aims to explore and compare the effectiveness of two interventions-immersive Virtual Reality (VR) 360-degree videos combined with aerobic exercises, and aerobic exercises alone-in improving cognitive functions in older adults with MCI. Key outcome measures, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Trail Making Test (TMT), will evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions on global cognition, attention, and executive function. We will include older adults aged 60 years and above with MoCA scores between 18-25 (MCI patients), who are able to perform independent ADLs. The participants will be assessed at the start of the intervention through the MoCA scale for MCI screening and baseline TMT testing for inclusion.

Effects of Video Games and Ball Tossing on Eye Hand Coordination in Elderly With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

One of the key challenges faced by individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the decline in cognitive and motor abilities, particularly eye-hand coordination (EHC), which is essential for performing daily activities and maintaining independence. Impaired EHC can severely affect the quality of life in older adults, leading to difficulties in performing routine tasks like dressing, eating, and bathing, and increasing dependency on caregivers. Signs and symptoms include difficulty with precise movements like buttoning clothes, spilling drinks while pouring, struggling to catch a ball, messy handwriting. This study aims to explore and compare the effectiveness of two interventions-video games and ball tossing exercises-in improving Eye-hand coordination (EHC) in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Key outcome measures, including the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) and its supplemental test visual perception test and motor coordination test, will evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions on eye hand coordination. We will include older adults with 60 and above age with MoCA score of 18-25(MCI patients), who can do independent ADLs and beery vmi score of 80 and above. The participants would be assessed at the start of intervention through MoCA scale for MCI screening and Beery VMI testing method for Eye Hand Coordination for inclusion score.

Characterization of Dysmorphology in Subjects With Creatine Transporter Deficiency

Background: Creatine transporter deficiency (CTD) is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the brain in males. CTD causes intellectual disability that can be mild to severe. People with CTD may have seizures and behavioral issues. They may have slow growth and tire easily. CTD may sometimes be confused with autism or other disorders. Better diagnostics are needed. The study team in an NIH study noted that the faces of children with CTD can look similar. For this natural history study, an expert will examine photos of children with CTD. Any shared traits found might help to diagnose CTD. Objective: To look for shared facial features of children with CTD. Eligibility: Males aged 2 to 40 years old with CTD who were in study 17-CH-0020. Design: Some participants in study 17-CH-0020 had pictures taken of their faces. The NIH study team wants to share these photos with a colleague in Canada. This person is an expert at evaluating how genetic disorders affect people s bodies. Participant data collected during the study may also be sent to this expert. This data may include diagnostic images and results from lab tests. Some children did not have their pictures taken during study 17-CH-0020. Parents are asked to take pictures of these children and send them to the study team. These photos can be sent to a secure portal. The photos can also be taken in-person during a clinic visit. The photos may be printed in clinical study journals. But this is not required. Parents will be asked to sign a separate consent before the photos are published....

Outcomes of ICT Assistive Technology in RehabiliTAtIoN Pathways

The study aims to improve the quality of prosthetic intervention and verify the adequacy of assistive devices, and measurement outcomes. Fifty patients in need of prosthetic interventions for Augmentative Alternative Communication, computer accessibility, and environmental control will be recruited within the DAT Unit of the Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi "IRCCS S.Maria Nascente" in Milan. At baseline (T0) a physician and a psychologist will perform a clinical evaluation and the AT outcome assessment. The participants will be contacted for the follow-up phase (T1) 3 to 6 months after having received the assistive solution. At T1 clinicians will readminister the AT outcome assessment. In order to make the assessment accessible to all participants, these tests and questionnaires will be administered on Windows PCs, using Grid3 software, or on a specifically created accessible web page.

EARLY DETECTION OF DEAFNESS IN A MEMORY CENTER

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), like neurodegenerative diseases, appears insidiously with age. As major public health issues, they are nonetheless under-diagnosed because the presence of one can hinder the objectification of the other. The CogAudio project aims to detect early and in an ambulatory mode in a memory centre a speech perception disorder in noise thanks to the VRB test in patients weakened by cognitive disorders.

A Mixed Intervention to Improve Resilience for Patient With Neurocognitive Disorders

The study aims to test a program combining cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, positive psychology techniques, mindfulness meditation and yoga, in order to improve resilience in patient with minor cognitive disorder. This intervention will be compared to a control group, but also with a group testing another intervention (an intervention that does not improve resilience in the elderly, namely a "cognitive stimulation" intervention) in order to ensure that the effect potentially obtained is not due to the simple management of the participant. The duration of the intervention will be 3 months, with an evaluation directly before and after the intervention. In addition, in order to best evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions over time, two follow-up measurements will be proposed: a measurement one month after the intervention, then a final one three months after the intervention.

Virtual Reality Training for Inhibitory Control in Neurocognitive Disorders

Executive function disorders, such as inhibitory control (IC) difficulties, are very common in older adults with neurocognitive disorders (NCD). Management of these disorders is possible using traditional tools and tools based on new technologies, such as serious games and virtual reality (VR). However, today, few immersive tools exist that are specifically focused on IC training. The present study aims to evaluate the acceptability of an immersive application focused on IC in 48 patients with neurocognitive disorders. Participants that will test either an immersive (VR-headset) or a non-immersive (tablet) version of the application for 4 weeks, twice a week, and fill-in acceptability related questionnaires before, during and after the end of the intervention.