Clinical Research Directory

Efficacy of Gamma Auditory Stimulation for Cognitive Decline in Older Adults (Study 1)

Animal studies have shown that 40 Hz auditory stimulation alone can improve spatial memory and reduce Aβ deposition. However, human studies using 40 Hz auditory stimulation alone remain limited. Therefore, this study will use a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design to investigate the effects of 40 Hz auditory stimulation on cognitive function, EEG activity, sleep quality, and quality of life in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia.

The Relationships Between Neural Correlates of Effort Perception and Physical Activity Engagement

Objectives and research hypothesis Physical inactivity is a major health concern that has been linked to a variety of chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and mental disorders. Recent studies have shown that regular physical activity can decrease the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and severe COVID-19 illnesses, as well as improve antibody response to vaccine. As such, the adoption of a physically active lifestyle carries potential health benefits and has even been referred to as a "miracle cure" by the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges. Despite the implementation of policies that aimed to encourage regular physical activity, the prevalence of insufficient physical activity in high-income countries has increased since 2001 (32% in 2001 vs. 37% in 2018). Given the limited impact of health policies on physical activity engagement, it is essential to explore other avenues of research that can contribute to understanding this high level of inactivity and driving innovative strategies for encouraging physical activity. In this context, the automatic attraction of individuals toward activities associated with low-effort exertion is thought to play a key role in physical inactivity. Physical activity involves exerting physical effort, i.e., intensifying physical energy to achieve certain goals, such as increasing the force to lift a heavy object. This physical intensification is associated with the phenomenological experience of energy exertion. Higher effort perception is thought to be aversively valued by inactive individuals, inhibiting their engagement in regular physical activity. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the neural correlates of effort perception and how they relate to physical inactivity. It is crucial to gain insights into these neural correlates, especially to enhance our comprehension of the significance of effort minimization in physical inactivity. This project aims to decrease effort perception and improve the valuation of effort, incentivize regular physical activity, and improve overall health outcomes. Objective 1. Despite ongoing research, there is a lack of agreement on the neural mechanisms underlying effort perception as well as the role of sensorial feedback. Tasks EEG and fMRI aim to address this issue with original experimental methods in order to identify this neural mechanism. Hypothesis 1. Following A) muscle vibration and B) Induced ischemic paralysis and anesthesia, we expect decreased effort perception associated with a lower cortical S1 activation, unchanged activation in premotor structures, and preserved functional connectivity between premotor regions and S1. Objective 2. To unravel the neural interaction between efference copy and reafferent muscle spindle signals that contribute to effort perception Hypothesis 2. The neural correlates of effort perception involve interactions between premotor and sensory brain structures. Neural activation patterns of the brain regions implicated in effort perception vary depending on an individual's inclination to engage in physical activity. Objective 3. Task 3 will examine the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (TMS) to reduce effort perception in turn increase its perceived value quantified with the CR100 scale, the outcome variable of this study. Hypothesis 3. Vibration-induced desensitization of muscle spindles and the SMA cTBS reduce effort perception and improve the subjective value of physical effort.

Effects of Endogenous Gamma Light Stimulation on Brain Oscillations in Cognitively-normal Older Adults

This study aims to evaluate the effects of endogenous gamma non-flickering light stimulation on resting-state EEG rhythms and cognitive function in cognitively healthy older adults. Specifically, it will assess the immediate and long-term effects of this stimulation on brainwave activity and cognitive performance. The study will explore the potential of gamma light stimulation as a non-pharmacological intervention for cognitive decline in aging populations.

Effects of Combined 40 Hz Audio-visual Stimulation and Cognitive Games on Alzheimer's Disease

In addition to ongoing drug treatments for Alzheimer Disease (AD), protective approaches that can halt the progression of the disease are of particular importance. This project aims to develop a digital application that can monitor cognitive impairment, using EEG findings proven effective at the clinical level in Alzheimer and various types of dementia, including sensory entrainment and digital cognitive games. To this end, a collaboration between Istanbul Medipol University and Güven Future Health Technologies Inc. will develop a device featuring audio-visual sensory entrainment and digital cognitive games. This device will be made available to Alzheimer patients, and the differences between patients who use the application for three months, patients who do not use the application, and healthy controls will be evaluated through neurological examinations, neuropsychological tests, and EEG recordings indicating cognitive functions by the neurologist, project coordinator, and bursars. Monthly assessments, including EEG recordings, will also continue at home, and an application will be created to evaluate changes in cognitive functions through EEG data. By the end of the project, an application that includes sensory entrainment and digital cognitive games, proven effective at the clinical level using EEG findings for Alzheimer dementia patients, will be developed. Additionally, a health kit capable of temporal monitoring of cognitive function changes through EEG data will have been developed.