Clinical Research Directory

Effects of Nicotinamide Riboside on Bioenergetics and Oxidative Stress in Mild Cognitive Impairment/Alzheimer's Dementia

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effects of exogenously administered nicotinamide riboside (NR) on brain energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and cognitive function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's dementia (AD).

Repurposing Siponimod for Alzheimer's Disease

Collaboration with multiple sclerosis (MS) specialty colleagues led us to formulate the central hypothesis that Siponimod could lower the rate of brain atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects. To test our central hypothesis, we will carry out an 18-month Phase II, double-blind, randomized, twoarmed, placebo controlled, proof-of-concept clinical study in early AD subjects (i.e. mild AD) who will be receiving an escalating dose of Siponimod or placebo in the ratio 2:1 for 12 months, followed by a 6-month washout period. The primary outcome measures are safety and tolerability of Siponimod in mild AD subjects. The secondary outcome measures are the rates of brain atrophy derived from volumetric MRI (vMRI) as a proxy for neurodegeneration conducted at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months. The tertiary outcome measures are the changes in cognition and the levels of AD-associated (e.g., Aβ and tau) and inflammatory biomarkers in CSF after Siponimod exposure. In an exploratory effort, we will also measure plasma inflammatory markers during the entire duration of the study to investigate whether one or more of these markers can be used as dynamic surrogate markers of treatment response. Using our unique experience with the repurposing of immunomodulatory drugs for AD (and NCT #04032626), in the present project we are using elements of clinical trial design that we believe were successful and made some adjustments to fit the pharmacologic and toxic properties of Siponimod.

A Study To Assess The Feasibility Of Indivi Mobile Application In Monitoring Cognitive Performance In Aging Population

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the functionality and usability of Indivi mobile application-based cognitive activities in people with mild cognitive impairment/mild Alzheimer's disease (PwMCI/AD) and healthy controls (HC). This application uses a dynamic difficulty adjustment (DDA) system that customizes the level of the cognitive activities to each user. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the DDA system reach a stable difficulty level at the same rate for both PwMCI/AD and HC? * Is the stable difficulty level reached by the DDA system different for PwMCI/AD compared to HC? Researchers will also compare cognitive activities results and other aspects of the mobile application's performance to see if the application can validly distinguish between the two groups. Participants will use the Indivi mobile application, with its embedded DDA system, for a 6-week period.

The Role of Advanced Electroencephalographic Data as Marker of Pathology and Prognosis in Primary Dementias

The study aims to use advanced brainwave recordings of electroencephalogram (EEG) to understand early signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in people with mild memory problems, known as amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The goals of the study are to: 1. Find early markers of Alzheimer by analyzing EEG recordings, the researchers hope to identify patterns that indicate the presence of Alzheimer's disease. They will compare these patterns with other brain scans, like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, and look at different biological markers in the participants' spinal fluid and genetic data. 2. Predict the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The study will try to find EEG patterns that can predict whether someone with MCI will develop full-blown Alzheimer's disease. The aim is to create a system that combines EEG data with other brain scans and genetic information to better understand the risk of disease progression. 3. Track changes over time: The research will also monitor changes in brain activity and structure over time to understand how Alzheimer's disease progresses. In addition to studying people with MCI, the researchers will also look at EEG patterns in people with mild Alzheimer's disease (MILD AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Lewy-body dementia (LBD) to see how these patterns differ across various brain conditions. This could help improve the accuracy of diagnosing these diseases and understanding their link to genetic factors.

iTBS in MCI and Mild AD

This study aims to examine the effects of iTBS on cognitive function in individuals with MCI or mild AD, with a secondary objective of exploring prefrontal TBS mechanisms for cognitive function and the effect of iTBS on BDNF.