Novel Dementia Biomarkers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study will investigate structural and functional characteristics of the brain of dementia patients compared to healthy controls in order to get a better insight into importance of early biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia. The methods for obtaining biomarkers incude magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (ECG) and neurophyshological assessments. Special parameters are being studied that have already been shown to detect changes in the early stages of Alzheimer's dementia.

Official Title
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Investigating the Potential of Novel Dementia Biomarkers - an MRI, fNIRS and EEG Study

Conditions
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Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: No Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Clinically diagnosed MCI patients and matched healthy controls Exclusion Criteria: Metal in body and tatoos; Other chronic systemic neurological, cardiologic, metabolic or musculo-skeletal diseases which have been proven to influence the outcome variables Alcohol abuse Colour blindness Pregnancy Surgery in the last 6 months Uncorrected vision

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Patients<br>Mild Cognitive Impairment (clinical determination) | Other: No Intervention<br>* No Intervention<br>|
| Control<br>Healthy Elderly | Other: No Intervention<br>* No Intervention<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Locus Coeruleus (LC) Intensity | LC-intensity can be assesed with specific MRI sequences (TSE MRI-Sequence (see Dordevic et al, 2017)) | 15 minutes | 
| Volume of brain regions | VBM (voxel-based morphometry) | 30 minutes | 
| fNIRS-based change in oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin | In response to each task there is a hemodynamic response, which can be measured by fNIRS. In particular, fNIRS measures changes in blood oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin. | 1 hour | 
| Event-related-potential (ERP) waveforms: negative deflections (N100, N300) and positive deflections (P100, P300) | Voltages generated in the brain structures in response to specific events (Event-related potentials (ERPs)) | 1 hour | 
| Heart Rate Variability (HRV) | ECG-based variability measures in R-R intervals, both in rest abd during tasks | 1 hour | 
| Score on CERAD-Plus | Cognitive performance measure in points, with a higher score meaning better performance | 30 minutes | 
| Error-rate on Stroop-test | Test of executive functions, higher error-rate means worse performance | 10 minutes | 
| Error-rate on N-Back-test | Working memory test, higher error-rate means worse performance | 10 minutes | 
| Performance on verbal fluency test | Test of verbal fluency, more words spoken means a better score | 10 minutes |