The Locus Coeruleus and Memory

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Total Enrollment

70 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-02-01

Study Completion Date

2020-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The cause of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, remains unknown. Neuropathological studies suggest that a small area in the brainstem, the locus coeruleus, might be the site of the onset of the disease. This area is the sole source of noradrenalin to the brain, a neurotransmitter involved in arousal, but also cognitive functions. Animal and pharmacological studies have hinted towards an important role of this area in memory functioning. However, these studies were hampered by the limited spatial resolution, making it hard to clearly localize the locus coeruleus in the brain. New developments in brain imaging allow now to visualize the brain with stunning precision. Furthermore, a non-invasive new stimulation method, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, is believed to excite the locus coeruleus and thereby influencing neuronal networks and memory functioning.

There are three aims in this project:

1. To investigate how the functional interaction between the locus coeruleus and other brain areas, in particular the medial temporal lobe areas, during memory processes (encoding, consolidation and retrieval) change with development of Alzheimer's disease.
2. To investigate associations between noradrenaline, memory performance and brain functioning. The investigators aim to investigate how acute noradrenalin levels change during the different memory processes and whether or not this is beneficial for performance. Furthermore, the investigators will investigate whether this interaction between noradrenalin, memory performance and brain functioning is different healthy older individuals (n =35) or patients with prodromal Alzheimer's disease (n =35).
3. To investigate the underlying neural network changes during transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation. The investigators will focus on differences in functional connectivity between the locus coeruleus and the medial temporal lobe areas in healthy older individuals and prodromal Alzheimer's disease patients. An experimental condition will be compared with a sham condition in a pseudo-randomized cross-over design.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

fMRI of Vulnerable Brain Regions in Persons at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

NCT00478491

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Alzheimer's Disease Dementia +2 more

COMPLETED

In Vivo PET of Synaptic Density in Cognitive Disorders

NCT05384353

Alzheimer Disease Frontotemporal Degeneration Dementia With Lewy Bodies +1 more

COMPLETED

How do Patients With Amnesia Acquire New Knowledge?

NCT07191197

Amnesia Memory Disorder

NOT_YET_RECRUITING NA

REsting and Stimulus-based Paradigms to Detect Organized NetworkS and Predict Emergence of Consciousness

NCT03504709

Consciousness Disorder Coma Brain Injuries, Traumatic

COMPLETED

Vagus Somatosensory Evoked Potentials and Near-infrared Spectroscopy in the Early Diagnosis of Dementia

NCT02224326

Alzheimer´s Disease

COMPLETED

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Alzheimer's Disease

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Observational Model Type

CASE_CONTROL

Study Time Perspective

OTHER

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Healthy older controls

7 Tesla MRI with memory task and non-invasive neurostimulation

Intervention Type OTHER

This is not an intervention, we investigate the neural mechanisms

Prodromal Alzheimer's disease patients

7 Tesla MRI with memory task and non-invasive neurostimulation

Intervention Type OTHER

This is not an intervention, we investigate the neural mechanisms

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

7 Tesla MRI with memory task and non-invasive neurostimulation

This is not an intervention, we investigate the neural mechanisms

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

For the patients:

* diagnosis of prodromal Alzheimer's disease based on the latest research criteria (clinical assessment at the memory clinic : presence of at least a memory impairment, memory complaints expressed by the patient or informant, no problems in daily life functioning, no dementia and presence of biomarkers
* Clinical Dementia Rating score of 0.5 (
* Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) ≥ 23 and being mentally competent (in general, individuals with a MMSE ≥ 18 are considered mentally competent)
* Age: between 60 and 85 years old
* 50% female
* Right-handedness
* Average level of education
* Informed consent before participation in the study

For the healthy older individuals:

* Average neuropsychological test results, in accordance with normative data, corrected for age, education and gender
* No substantial memory complaints (according to the participant)
* Age: between 60 and 85 years old
* 50% female
* Right-handedness
* Average level of education
* Informed consent before participation in the study

Exclusion Criteria

* Reduced vision
* Psychoactive medication use
* Abuse of alcohol and drugs
* Cognitive impairment due to alcohol/drug abuse or abuse of other substances
* Past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders (major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder (or treatment for it), epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, brain surgery, brain trauma, electroshock therapy, kidney dialysis, Menière's disease, brain infections)
* Major vascular disorders (e.g. stroke)
* Heart diseases or pacemakers
* Contraindications for scanning (e.g. brain surgery, cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, claustrophobia, body tattoos)

Minimum Eligible Age

60 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes