Clinical Research Directory

Turkish Validation of the Parkinson Disease Cognitive Functional Rating Scale

The aim of the present study is to translate the Parkinson's Disease-Cognitive Functional Rating Scale into Turkish (PD-CFRS-Turkish version) and to evaluate its validity and reliability.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Group for Residential Home Residents With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment

The research aims to investigate the effectiveness a cognitive stimulation therapy group for older adults with dementia and mild cognitive impairment living in residential homes. This study adopts a multicenter randomized control trial two arms research design. The randomized controlled trial will compare a typical 14-session cognitive stimulation therapy group with a calligraphy group to determine whether the 14-session cognitive stimulation therapy group can produce better intervention outcomes for older adults with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, including cognitive functions, depressive symptoms, activities engagement, social functioning and, quality of life.

Sleep Quality and Cognitive Functions in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

This observational cross-sectional study aims to examine the association between sleep quality and cognitive functions in healthy young adults. Subjective sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and objective sleep parameters will be collected using a wearable device over five consecutive days. Cognitive functions will be evaluated at a single assessment session using standardized neuropsychological tests, including measures of attention, executive functions, and verbal memory. The study seeks to explore relationships between subjective and objective sleep measures and cognitive performance. Findings from this study may contribute to a better understanding of how sleep quality is associated with cognitive functioning in healthy young adults.

Cognitive Function in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder and has been increasingly recognized as a contributor to cognitive decline and a potential risk factor for neurodegeneration. Previous studies have identified several associated comorbidities, including vascular dysfunction, metabolic alterations, and neuroinflammatory changes. However, the impact and underlying interplay of these pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood due to the lack of integrated, multidimensional assessment. This prospective, observational, longitudinal cohort study aims to investigate cognition and OSA-related physiological and pathophysiological processes in 100 adults newly diagnosed with OSA, who have no history of chronic diseases (except for overweight and obesity) and are not receiving chronic medication. A subgroup of patients with moderate to severe OSA indicated for positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy will be followed to evaluate its long-term effects on cognitive function and related mechanisms. All participants will undergo polysomnography (PSG), comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, brain MRI with volumetric analysis, biomarker profiling from blood and saliva, and evaluation of endothelial function, baroreflex sensitivity, and gut microbiome composition at baseline and after 12 months. PAP adherence will be continuously monitored. The primary objective of this study is to characterize the profile of cognitive impairment associated with OSA. Secondary exploratory analyses will focus on factors contributing to neurocognitive dysfunction in OSA.

Multimodal Brain Function in Migraine Patients With Patent Foramen Ovale

This investigator-initiated, single-center prospective study is designed to clarify how patent foramen ovale (PFO) relates to brain function abnormalities in patients with drug-refractory migraine with aura (MA), and whether percutaneous PFO closure is associated with measurable, longitudinal improvements in neurophysiological and neuroimaging markers as well as clinical symptoms. The study addresses two core questions: (1) Do MA patients with clinically significant right-to-left shunt due to PFO demonstrate distinct resting-state brain function patterns-captured by high-density EEG (hdEEG), resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), and standardized cognitive testing-compared with MA patients without PFO? (2) In MA patients with PFO who undergo clinically indicated percutaneous PFO closure, do these multimodal brain function measures change over time after closure (pre-procedure vs 1, 6, and 12 months), and are such changes accompanied by improvement in migraine burden, quality of life, and mood/anxiety symptoms? The protocol includes two phases. In Phase 1 (cross-sectional comparison), two groups are evaluated at baseline: MA with PFO (PFO+/MA+) and MA without PFO (PFO-/MA+). Participants complete hdEEG and rs-fMRI to characterize whole-brain power spectral density and connectivity, and undergo MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) testing and validated symptom/psychological assessments (e.g., MIDAS, MSQ v2.1, PHQ-9, GAD-7, RoPE). In Phase 2 (prospective self-controlled cohort), eligible PFO+/MA+ participants who proceed to percutaneous PFO closure as part of routine clinical care are followed longitudinally with repeated multimodal assessments at pre-closure baseline and post-closure 1, 6, and 12 months. This phase evaluates within-person trajectories of resting-state brain function (hdEEG, rs-fMRI) and cognition/emotion measures, together with migraine diary-based outcomes and patient-reported quality of life/disability and mood/anxiety scales. Key eligibility focuses on adults aged 18-65 years with ICHD-3-defined migraine with aura and a history of frequent migraine (≥4 migraine days/month during screening) despite prior preventive therapy trials; the PFO group requires echocardiographic confirmation of PFO with at least moderate right-to-left shunt (e.g., during Valsalva on contrast TEE), consistent with the study's focus on clinically meaningful shunt physiology. The primary endpoints are multimodal brain function and cognition measures. In Phase 1, the main outcomes include between-group differences in MCCB composite score, rs-fMRI whole-brain functional connectivity strength, and hdEEG spectral power across frequency bands (delta/theta/alpha/beta/gamma) and theta-band connectivity quantified by whole-brain phase-lag index (PLI). In Phase 2, the primary outcome is the 12-month post-closure change in these multimodal resting-state brain function measures, reflecting dynamic neural recovery or reorganization after PFO closure. Secondary outcomes include changes in migraine clinical metrics (monthly migraine days, attack frequency and duration, and complete remission rate), migraine-specific quality of life (MSQ v2.1), disability (MIDAS), and depression/anxiety symptom scores (PHQ-9 and GAD-7) over follow-up. Safety outcomes include adverse events potentially related to the closure procedure and routine post-procedural anti-thrombotic therapy, captured throughout follow-up.

Phenolic Complex k110-42 Therapy on Cognitive Functions in Down Children

The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of phenolic complex k110-42 on cognitive function of children with Down syndrome

Equol and Vascular Function in Women With Chronic Kidney Disease

The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is significantly elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Notably, women with CKD commonly experience menstrual disturbances induced by CKD, which may contribute to impaired vascular function and elevated CVD risk. However, most of the literature in nephrology focuses on male patients, and studies on women's vascular health are limited. Establishing effective therapies for improving vascular function and reducing CVD risk in women with CKD is a high research priority of the NIH. Equol contributes to improvement in vascular function, mediated in part by its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is no information on the effect of equol on vascular function in women with CKD. The proposed project aims to determine the effect of 12 weeks of oral equol supplementation on vascular function in postmenopausal women with CKD.

BDNF Levels in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Cognitive impairment following chemotherapy is defined as chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CCIID). CCIID, which significantly reduces the quality of life of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, develops as a result of neurotoxicity. It is stated that 75% of patients receiving chemotherapy have cognitive changes. In addition, 35% of patients complain of various cognitive impairments (hearing, perception, decision-making, etc.) for a few months after chemotherapy ends. This situation makes life conditions very difficult for patients who are already experiencing a very difficult disease and treatment process. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is an extracellular signaling protein known for its dominant role in the development of the nervous system, such as neurogenesis, neuroprotection, neurodegeneration, synaptic plasticity, and resistance to neuronal stress. This protein has opposing effects with its mature form, pro-BDNF protein, and pro-BDNF/BDNF ratios affect neuronal health. Although a number of factors have been identified that are responsible for the deterioration of the cognitive levels of patients receiving chemotherapy, the role of BDNF and pro-BDNF levels in cognitive functions in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is unknown. In light of this information, the aim of our study is to reveal the effects of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CIID) on pro-BDNF/BDNF levels and to evaluate the cognitive effects. In line with this aim, patients who apply to Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Oncology, Polyclinic and Chemotherapy Unit and who have not yet received their first chemotherapy will be included in the study. Before the first chemotherapy, during routine follow-ups in the 3rd month of chemotherapy and in the 6th month in Aydın, 1 extra tube of blood will be taken and BDNF levels will be examined. At the same time, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test will be applied to the patients to evaluate their cognitive functions. Thus, serum BNDF, proBDNF levels will be determined and the BDNF/proBDNF ratio will be revealed.

Evaluation of a Home-based AOMI Intervention on Cognitive Function and Depression Among Adults with SCI

The investigators propose a pilot randomized clinical trial to determine if adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) show improved cognitive function and depression following home-based Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) training. It is hypothesized that the home-based AOMI intervention will show satisfactory feasibility and acceptability. They also hypothesize that AOMI training can be used as a rehabilitative tool for improving cognitive function and depression in adults with SCI, because it engages and strengthens similar neural systems as actual exercise.

Neuropsychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents With Turner Syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) is a rare chromosomal disorder characterized by partial or complete loss of one of the X chromosomes that affects about one in every 2000 female babies born. These young patients described difficulties making friends, understanding others' emotions and intentions, and controlling their own emotions. Difficulties in these domains could led to social withdrawal, to reduced social skills and could have a significant impact on self esteem and mental health as well as on long-term academic and social functioning in affected individuals. The purpose of this project is to identify functional and dysfunctional cognitive and socio-cognitive abilities in these young patients which could account social difficulties described by some of them and their family. To this end, 35 girls with TS and 35 girls with isolated growth hormone deficiency and normal cerebral MRI will be recruited. Subjects will be 7 to 16 years and 11 months of age. Socio-cognitive and cognitive functions will be assessed with neuropsychological and experimental tasks. Questionnaires completed by patient, parents or teacher, will evaluate social and behavioral functioning.