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Clinical Trials/NCT02050386
NCT02050386WithdrawnNot Applicable

The Role of Brain Arousal Systems in Cognitive and Physical Decline in Normal Aging

University of Florida1 site in 1 countryStarted: November 2013Last updated:
Conditions

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Withdrawn
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Cognitive Function

Study Overview

Brief Summary

This is a study designed to look at how arousal levels in the brain change with age and how these changes influence thinking, vision, hearing and physical function in people of advanced age.

Detailed Description

There are two parts involved in this study:

Part #1- Paperwork, Computer-based cognitive tests, Physical function test, EEG recording

  • Potential participants will be pre-screened at the time of their initial phone call to be sure they fit the guidelines for this research study.
  • Participants will be given this Informed Consent document. This Informed Consent will be reviewed in a private location; participants will be given as much time as participants need to consider enrolling in the study. Participants may want to discuss the information with friends or family. Participants may ask questions at any time during the study visit.
  • If participants choose to sign this form, and agree to participate, participants will be further screened for inclusion/exclusion factors related to the MRI scanning. All women under the age of 62 will be given a pregnancy test, based on a urine sample.
  • Investigators will review a detailed Medical History form with participants, asking questions about participants and participants family's medical history.
  • Investigators will ask participants to complete a brief physical activity questionnaire asking questions about participants daily level of physical activity.
  • Participants will be asked to complete several computer tasks meant to measure participants cognitive abilities (like memory and attention), which takes about 30 minutes.
  • Participants will also be asked to complete a short physical performance battery (SPPB), that looks at participants ability to sit and stand, walk a short distance, and balance, which takes about 30 minutes.
  • Participants will also be asked to participate in an EEG recording session. An EEG cap, selected for participants head size, will be placed on participants head. The cap contains small electrodes that record participants brains electrical activity. During this part of the study, participants will sit in a comfortable chair while watching pictures on a computer screen, listening to sounds through headphones, or resting. This will take about 1 hour.
  • Participants will also be asked to undergo a cold pressor test (CPT) and/or sham stimulation. CPT involves immersing either participants hand or foot in cold water for about one minute. Sham stimulation involved immersing either the hand or foot in room temperature water for about one minute.
  • Finally, participants will be transported by someone involved with this study (by passenger van or golf cart) to the McKnight Brain Institute MRI Center. Or, if participants prefer, the next portion of the visit can be scheduled for another day.

Part #2- MRI Scan

The following procedures will take place at the Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center at the McKnight Brain Institute- for the MRI brain scan, and can be done on the same day as Part #1, or on a different day for participants scheduling convenience.

Study Design

Study Type
Observational
Observational Model
Cohort
Time Perspective
Cross Sectional

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to 95 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Ages 18 to 95

Exclusion Criteria

  • History of pre-existing neurological disorders,
  • Psychiatric brain disorders,
  • Diagnosis with a neurodegenerative brain disease,
  • Uncontrolled blood pressure (>200/110),
  • History of severe hypertension,
  • History of angina
  • People who have metal implants and can not have an MRI scan,
  • People who are claustrophobic,
  • Females of child-bearing age and have a positive test for pregnancy

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Cognitive Function

Time Frame: up to 30 days

The Cognition Domain measures several aspects of cognitive functioning for ages 3-85, including language, episodic memory, executive function, working memory and processing speed. To interpret individual performance, one can evaluate all three types of scale scores. A participant's age-adjusted scale score at or near 100 indicates vocabulary ability that is average for the age level. Scores around 115 suggest above-average vocabulary ability, while scores around 130 suggest superior ability.

MRI: BOLD Response

Time Frame: up to 30 days

Functional MRI

Secondary Outcomes

  • Physiological Response: Mean Heart Rate(Baseline)
  • Cognitive Functions: N-Back Task Test(Baseline)
  • Cognitive Functions: Attention Tasks Test(Baseline)
  • Cognitive Functions: Memory Task Test(Baseline)
  • Physical Function: Short Physical Performance Battery(Baseline)

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Sponsor

Study Sites (1)

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