Optical Neuroimaging and Cognition

Recruiting

• Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment; Alzheimer Disease; Dementia With Lewy Bodies
• Interventions: Other: Near-infrared Spectroscopy scan; Other: Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan

• Registration Number: NCT05460143
• Lead Sponsor: University of Cambridge

Brief Summary

Dementia is associated with a variety of neurovascular and neurometabolic abnormalities. Traditional imaging techniques used to investigate such abnormalities, such as Positron Emission Tomography and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, are not always well tolerated, have expensive start up and running costs, and are limited with regards to the types of experiments that can be performed as they can be highly sensitive to movement, are noisy, and have physical restrictions.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique which uses light in the near-infrared spectrum to detect relative changes in concentration of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin, and the oxidation state of Cytochrome C Oxidase. As such, NIRS can provide measures of brain oxygenation and metabolism. NIRS is less sensitive to movement, is well tolerated and has few contraindications. It is thus a promising candidate for use in clinics or in peoples' homes for monitoring dementia.

In the present study, the investigators aim to use both dual-wavelength and broadband NIRS in a range of dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and severities, including Mild Cognitive Impairment, to identify how brain oxygenation and metabolism is altered in dementia and across various clinical subgroups. The investigators also aim to determine the relationship between brain oxygenation and metabolism in dementia, and use machine learning approaches to identify optical biomarkers for dementia.

Detailed Description

There are several different types of dementia including Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Due to the overlapping symptomatology across types of dementia and the lack of objective biomarkers currently available for dementia, misdiagnosis rates are high. Additionally, the transition from what is commonly thought to be an intermediate stage, termed Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), to dementia, is not well defined. Neurovascular and metabolic dysfunction has been strongly linked to neurodegeneration and dementia, however, a mechanistic understanding of this link has not been fully developed.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive, non-ionising and portable neuroimaging technique which uses light to quantify changes in concentration of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin in the brain. As such, it is a highly attractive alternative to functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging as it allows access to a larger variety of individuals, can be used at the bedside or in patients' own homes, and is significantly less intrusive.

To identify how the brain's haemodynamics and metabolism is altered in dementia, this study will use NIRS in 25 patients with AD, 25 patients with DLB, 50 patients with MCI and 100 age-matched healthy controls. This study will be conducted by the School of Technology and the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge.

Firstly, the investigators will perform several cognitive tests in these patient groups whilst measuring brain activity using a state-of-the-art, dual-wavelength, high-density NIRS device to map how the brain's haemodynamics are altered in dementia. Secondly, the investigators will perform further cognitive tests using broadband NIRS to measure how neurometabolism is altered across the patient groups. The investigators will also relate the optical data to several facets of cognition that these cognitive tests will measure including memory, attention, and motor function. Several questionnaires will also be administered to assess non-cognitive symptoms such as depression and sleep disturbances. If participants in the patient groups have not had a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, or did one over two years ago, they will also undertake an MRI scan to enable the localisation of brain activity, measured by NIRS, accounting for individual differences in brain structure and atrophy patterns.

The investigators shall compare all patient groups (AD, DLB, MCI) with healthy controls to determine how the brain's haemodynamics and metabolism are altered in dementia, as well as how this relates to both behavioural scores (collected during cognitive testing) and clinical scores (using either data collected from questionnaires or patient's own clinical history). Through combining the two NIRS techniques, the investigators shall also determine the nature of the relationship between the blood oxygenation in the surrounding vasculature and the intra-neuronal metabolic activity, and how this relationship may be altered in dementia and across different types of dementia. Additionally, the investigators shall apply computational methods, such as machine learning, to identify haemodynamic and/or metabolic signatures for use as biomarkers in the clinic.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-07-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-07-11
• Study First Posted: 2022-07-15
• Study Start: 2023-05-01
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-07
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-10
• Primary Completion: 2025-09-01
• Study Completion: 2025-09-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

1. A diagnosis of probable:

   • Lewy Body Dementia
   • Alzheimer's Disease
   • Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI-LB or MCI-AD) OR

2. Cognitively normal for their education and age, with a MMSE score above 26 AND

   • A good grasp of the English language
   • An informant (either a carer or family member) who will be available throughout testing (only relevant if in a patient group)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Severe dementia

   • Unable to participate
   • A MMSE score below 12

2. A condition which influences metabolism or haemodynamics

   • Such as metabolic or respiratory disorders

3. A significant mental illness

   • Such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus
   • Oral steroid use

4. A significant psychiatric disorder

5. MCI due to other causes such as traumatic brain injury, vascular dementia, or fronto-temporal dementia

6. A history of excessive drug or alcohol use

7. Contraindications to MRI (only for patient groups undertaking the MRI scan: AD/MCI/DLB)

   • Surgical implants e.g. pacemakers
   • Obesity

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Dementia with Lewy Bodies	Near-infrared Spectroscopy scan	These subjects should meet the criteria for dementia with Lewy Bodies (McKeith et al. (2005). Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Third report of the DLB consortium. Neurology. 65:1863-72.).
Mild Cognitive Impairment - LB	Near-infrared Spectroscopy scan	Mild Cognitive Impairment in a single or a multiple domain (Jak et al., 2009) with at least one LB symptom (MCI-LB; McKeith, I. G., et al. 2020. Research criteria for the diagnosis of prodromal dementia with Lewy bodies. Neurology. 94(17): 743-55.).
Healthy controls	Near-infrared Spectroscopy scan	These subjects should have MMSE scores above 26, no regular memory complaints, no signs/symptoms of dementia and no unstable or significant medical illness.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies	Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan	These subjects should meet the criteria for dementia with Lewy Bodies (McKeith et al. (2005). Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Third report of the DLB consortium. Neurology. 65:1863-72.).
Alzheimer's Disease	Near-infrared Spectroscopy scan	These subjects should have a clinical diagnosis of AD in accordance with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders criteria (McKhann, G. M., et al. 2011. The diagnosis of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 7:263-9.).
Alzheimer's Disease	Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan	These subjects should have a clinical diagnosis of AD in accordance with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders criteria (McKhann, G. M., et al. 2011. The diagnosis of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 7:263-9.).
Mild Cognitive Impairment - AD	Near-infrared Spectroscopy scan	Mild Cognitive Impairment in a single or a multiple domain (Jak et al., 2009) with AD symptoms (MCI-AD; Dubois, B., et al. 2009. Early detection of Alzheimer's disease: new diagnostic criteria. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 11(2): 135-9.).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive behavioural data	Within the study session (1 hour)	Behavioural scores collected through the cognitive testing performed during NIRS scans. These include scores of memory function and word retrieval, e.g., accuracy of words recalled, reaction times.
Brain metabolism	Within the study session (1hour)	As measured with broadband NIRS. We will measure task-related changes in oxidation state of Cytochrome C Oxidase(µmol).
Brain oxygenation	Within the study session (1 hour)	As measured with dual-wavelength NIRS. We will measure task-related relative changes in concentration in oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin (µmol).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Geriatric depression scale	Within the study session (maximum 1 hour)	Number identified out of 15.
Rey Auditory Verbal learning test	Within the study session (maximum 1 hour)	Accuracy.
ACE-R score	Within the study session (maximum 1 hour)	Cognitive exam, out of 100%.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Univeristy of Cambridge; 🇬🇧 Cambridge, United Kingdom