Therapy of Alzheimer's Disease With Neurofeedback
- Conditions
- ElderlyAlzheimer Dementia (AD)
- Interventions
- Other: rtfMRI neurofeedback trainingDevice: 3T MRI
- Registration Number
- NCT03070821
- Lead Sponsor
- University Hospital, Aachen
- Brief Summary
The project aims to investigate in patients of Alzheimer's disease in a prodromal state (early state of the disease) compared to healthy subjects whether neurofeedback training with functional MRI (fMRI) can improve cognitive ability. It is of interest if voluntary modulation of brain activation with real-time (rt) fMRI as a novel method affects cognitive ability, as well as functional and structural measures of the brain.
Over the course of the study subjects will learn a real-world footpath. During neurofeedback training subjects are then asked to recall this footpath while simultaneously trying to modulate their own brain activation based on feedback. Feedback is given about the parahippocampal gyrus - a region of the brain associated with episodic and visuo-spatial memory, which is known to be affected early by Alzheimer's disease pathology.
Before and after the training cognitive ability is assessed using neuropsychological tests mainly measuring numerous domains of memory.
The investigators hypothesise that the training leads to an improvement of the trained cognitive domain, but also induces changes in brain structure and function.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 30
- Native speakers of German
- Naive to neurofeedback experiments
- Ability to provide written informed consent
- Metallic implants (MR-safety)
- Neurological/psychiatric disease (except Alzheimer's disease in the patient group)
- Use of psychoactive medication (expect medication for Alzheimer's disease)
- Familiarity with the study site
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Patient group 3T MRI Feedback of the parahippocampal gyrus using rtfMRI neurofeedback training (using 3T MRI). Healthy elderly sham-feedback group 3T MRI Feedback of the postcentral gyrus using rtfMRI neurofeedback training (using 3T MRI). Healthy elderly sham-feedback group rtfMRI neurofeedback training Feedback of the postcentral gyrus using rtfMRI neurofeedback training (using 3T MRI). Healthy elderly experimental group 3T MRI Feedback of the parahippocampal gyrus using rtfMRI neurofeedback training (using 3T MRI). Patient group rtfMRI neurofeedback training Feedback of the parahippocampal gyrus using rtfMRI neurofeedback training (using 3T MRI). Healthy elderly experimental group rtfMRI neurofeedback training Feedback of the parahippocampal gyrus using rtfMRI neurofeedback training (using 3T MRI).
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Visual and Verbal Memory Test (VVM) 2.5 weeks Neuropsychological assessment including visuo-spatial memory
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Wechsler Memory Scale Revised (WMS-R) 2.5 weeks Subtests from the WMS-R were used to assess several domains of memory
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 2.5 weeks Neuropsychological instrument for a general cognitive screening
Trail Making Test (TMT) 2.5 weeks TMT-A and -B were used to assess cognitive processing speed and task switching capabilities.
Visual Patterns Test (VPT) 2.5 weeks The VPT was used to assess visual working memory capabilities.
Parahippocampal activation 2.5 weeks Activation of the parahippocampal gyrus during neurofeedback training as measured with fMRI
Memory-related functional connectivity using Granger Causality Analysis (GCA) 2.5 weeks Change of functional connectivity mainly between memory-associated brain regions over the course of neurofeedback training characterised by GCA
Change of brain structure 2.5 weeks Assessment of grey matter volume in the entire brain
Change of brain function 2.5 weeks Assessment of activation in the entire brain