Understanding Brain Mechanisms Involved in Autobiographical...

About this study

The overall objective of this project is to characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of brain oscillations underpinning autobiographical memory (ABM) and the modulation of the memory network using non-invasive brain stimulation.

Condition: Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer Disease, Memory Loss
Tested: high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG), Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)
Sponsor: Lucie Bréchet

Who can join

Age: 18 to 85 years
Sex: All sexes
Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion 20

Minimum age: 18 years
Maximum age: 85 years
Study condition: Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer Disease, Memory Loss
Cognitively-Unimpaired Younger and Older Adults
Age 18 to 35 years old (younger adults)
Age 55+ years old (older adults)
without any cognitive impairment (based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment: MoCA)
willing and capable to give informed consent for participation in the study after it has been thoroughly explained able
willing to comply with all study requirements informed consent form was signed
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients
Age 55+ years old
Clinical Diagnosis of MCI
Confirmation of diagnosis will be made by the study MD based on a holistic consideration of the participant's cognitive evaluation and history
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) ≥ 18 (Mild AD ≥ 21)
CDR ≥ .5
Demonstration or history of autobiographical memory impairments
On a stable dose of medications for memory loss including cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g. donepezil, rivastigmine) or memantine as defined as 6 consecutive weeks of treatment at an unchanging dose
Minimum of completed 8th-grade education
willing and capable to give informed consent for participation in the study after it has been thoroughly explained - note that to ensure this in the case of the MCI participants, a cut-off of MOCA score \>18 will be applied
able and willing to comply with all study requirements informed consent form was signed

Exclusion 18

Cognitively-Unimpaired Younger and Older Adults
any cognitive impairment captured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) - score \< 26
major psychiatric co-morbidity including major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis
blindness or other disabilities that prevent task performance
Contraindication for undergoing MRI
Any metal in the brain or skull (excluding dental fillings) or elsewhere in the body unless cleared by the responsible covering MD (e.g. MRI compatible joint replacement)
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients
Age \< 55 years old
Any current diagnosis of a major psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder)
Other than MCI, any history of other progressive or genetic neurologic disorder (e.g. Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, tubular sclerosis) or acquired neurological disease (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury, tumor), including intracranial lesions
History of head trauma resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness
Current history of poorly controlled headaches including chronic medication for migraine prevention
History of fainting spells of unknown or undetermined etiology that might constitute seizures
History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, or immediate (1st-degree relative) family history of epilepsy with the exception of a single seizure of benign etiology (e.g. febrile seizures) in the judgment of a board-certified neurologist
Any unstable medical condition or chronic (particularly) uncontrolled medical conditions that may cause a medical emergency in case of a provoked seizure (cardiac malformation, cardiac dysrhythmia, asthma, etc.) or study complication
contraindications to tACS, as recorded on a standardized screening questionnaire, which include a reported seizure within the past two years, use of neuroactive drugs, self-reported presence of specific implanted medical devices (e.g., deep brain stimulator, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, pacemaker, etc.), or the presence of any active dermatological condition, such as eczema, on the scalp
Contraindication for undergoing MRI or receiving tACS
Any devices such as a pacemaker, medication pump, nerve stimulator, TENS unit, ventriculoperitoneal shunt unless cleared by the responsible covering MD

Where

1 site, 1 recruiting

University of Geneva, Campus Biotech

Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland

Recruiting

Contact