Neurological Soft Signs in Neurodegenerative Dementias (DemeNSS)

University of Milano Bicocca

Status: Completed

Conditions: Alzheimer Disease; Frontotemporal Dementia; Corticobasal Degeneration; Dementia With Lewy Bodies

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Neurological Soft Signs

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06354933

DemeNSS (3785)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the prevalence of Neurological Soft Signs (NSS) in various categories of dementia patients compared to matched controls. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does the prevalence of NSS significantly differ among patients with neurodegenerative dementias compared to controls?
• Are NSS associated with neuropsychiatric alterations in dementia patients?
• Do NSS correlate with cognitive screening tools?
• Do NSS increase over time in patients with neurodegenerative dementias?

Participants will undergo assessments including:

• Evaluation of NSS using the Heidelberg scale
• Neuropsychiatric assessments
• Cognitive screening using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB)

Researchers will compare dementia groups (Alzheimer's disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Corticobasal syndrome and Lewy body dementia) to controls to determine differences in NSS prevalence. Additionally, associations between NSS and neuropsychiatric symptoms, as well as cognitive performance, will be explored.

Enrollment: 186 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Corticobasal Syndrome (CBS), or probable Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) according to established clinical criteria.
• MMSE score greater than 10.
• Age and gender-matched controls without a history of neurological or psychiatric conditions.

Exclusion criteria

• Mixed dementia or vascular etiology.
• History of neurological or psychiatric conditions predating the dementia diagnosis.
• Substance or alcohol abuse history.
• Known comorbidities affecting neurological or psychiatric function.
• MMSE score less than or equal to 10.
• Inability to provide informed consent.

Trial design

186 participants in 2 patient groups

Neurodegenerative dementias

Description:

Subjects with either Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies or corticobasal syndrome

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Neurological Soft Signs

Control

Description:

Subjects without dementia

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Neurological Soft Signs