Hand Grasping Techniques on Eliciting the Grasp Reflex in Patients With Dementia (GRASP)

Rowan University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dementia

Treatments: Other: standard palmar grasp test with dorsal stimulation; Other: palmar grasp without dorsal stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02925273

GRASP

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study, the investigators will determine the difference between the two techniques used to elicit the grasp response in patients with frontal lobe dysfunction, primarily in dementia patients versus control patients.

Full description

The goal of this project is to determine the optimal technique to elicit the grasping response in patients with dementia or suspected frontal lobe dysfunction. The proposed study is to perform two techniques to elicit grasp response in patients with dementia or suspected frontal lobe dysfunction and observe the presence or absence of the response and prominence of the response on a proposed rating scale. Future goals will be aimed at aiding clinicians in refining their clinical techniques to be more sensitive for diagnosing frontal lobe dysfunctions.

Enrollment: 1 patient

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Ability to sign informed consent or have a surrogate present to sign the consent
2. Age 18 or above
3. Patients are diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or frontal lobe dysfunction
4. Medications are to remain stable during the course of the study except for emergency modifications.

Exclusion criteria

1. Inability to obtain informed consent from patient or surrogate
2. Unable to follow commands.
3. Physical restrictions (i.e. spasticity of hands/arms, upper extremity amputation)
4. Other comorbidities such as muscular diseases, hepatic encephalopathy, renal failure, down syndrome, NPH, depression, and cerebral palsy.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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1 participants in 1 patient group

Standard

Other group

Description:

Prospective, grasp techniques will be compared in each patient from the experimental group using a palmar grasp without dorsal stimulation and a standard palmar grasp test with dorsal stimulation on the same patient as the control group

Treatment:

Other: palmar grasp without dorsal stimulation

Other: standard palmar grasp test with dorsal stimulation