Therapy of Alzheimer's Disease With Neurofeedback

University Hospital, Aachen

Status: Completed

Conditions: Alzheimer Dementia (AD); Elderly

Treatments: Device: 3T MRI; Other: rtfMRI neurofeedback training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03070821

AFI 13812

Details and patient eligibility

About

The project aims to investigate in patients of Alzheimer's disease in a prodromal state (early state of the disease) compared to healthy subjects whether neurofeedback training with functional MRI (fMRI) can improve cognitive ability. It is of interest if voluntary modulation of brain activation with real-time (rt) fMRI as a novel method affects cognitive ability, as well as functional and structural measures of the brain.

Over the course of the study subjects will learn a real-world footpath. During neurofeedback training subjects are then asked to recall this footpath while simultaneously trying to modulate their own brain activation based on feedback. Feedback is given about the parahippocampal gyrus - a region of the brain associated with episodic and visuo-spatial memory, which is known to be affected early by Alzheimer's disease pathology.

Before and after the training cognitive ability is assessed using neuropsychological tests mainly measuring numerous domains of memory.

The investigators hypothesise that the training leads to an improvement of the trained cognitive domain, but also induces changes in brain structure and function.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Native speakers of German
• Naive to neurofeedback experiments
• Ability to provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Metallic implants (MR-safety)
• Neurological/psychiatric disease (except Alzheimer's disease in the patient group)
• Use of psychoactive medication (expect medication for Alzheimer's disease)
• Familiarity with the study site

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 3 patient groups

Healthy elderly experimental group

Experimental group

Description:

Feedback of the parahippocampal gyrus using rtfMRI neurofeedback training (using 3T MRI).

Treatment:

Other: rtfMRI neurofeedback training

Device: 3T MRI

Patient group

Experimental group

Description:

Feedback of the parahippocampal gyrus using rtfMRI neurofeedback training (using 3T MRI).

Treatment:

Other: rtfMRI neurofeedback training

Device: 3T MRI

Healthy elderly sham-feedback group

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Feedback of the postcentral gyrus using rtfMRI neurofeedback training (using 3T MRI).

Treatment:

Other: rtfMRI neurofeedback training

Device: 3T MRI