189 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The purpose of this study is to study the effects of attention training interventions on symptoms and brain function in major depressive disorder.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if vortioxetine improves mood symptoms and cognition in patients with early-stage behavioral variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD). The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Do individuals with mood symptoms and bvFTD have brain changes and cognitive profiles that differ compared to individuals without bvFTD? 2. Do mood symptoms and cognition improve following treatment with vortioxetine? Researchers will also determine whether there are changes in the brain associated with vortioxetine treatment. Participants will: * Undergo a screening visit that involves clinical assessments and laboratory tests * Undergo an initial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorodeoxyglucose (18F) Positron Emission Tomography (FDG PET) scan before starting treatment with vortioxetine * Undergo memory and problem-solving tests before starting treatment with vortioxetine * Undergo approximately 12 weeks of treatment with vortioxetine, during which time there will be regular contact and assessments with the study psychiatrist * Undergo a repeat PET scan and repeat memory and problem-solving tests after 12 weeks of treatment with vortioxetine
The purpose of this study is to assess feasibility, acceptability, and safety of providing transcranial direct current stimulation( tDCS) to Huntingtons Disease (HD) patients in the early to middle stages and to assess the efficacy of tDCS for HD-related behavioral, cognitive and other symptoms
End-Stage Liver Disease (ESLD) is one of the ten leading causes of death in US. It is marked by episodic acute exacerbations of the underlying liver disease which often leads to severe symptoms, poor quality of life, mental deterioration and repeated hospitalizations. The overall purpose of this project is to introduce a telehealth based intervention (involving remote monitoring of symptoms and cognitive function initiated at the time of discharge of ESLD patients. This will support enhanced clinical care and improve self-management in ESLD population. In addition, it will reduce healthcare utilization, improve medication adherence and overall health outcomes
Randomized, double-blind clinical trial of tocilizumab vs. placebo as add-on treatment for residual positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia. The primary study hypothesis is that individuals receiving tocilizumab will show greater improvements in their PANSS total scores than those taking placebo.
The primary objectives of this application are to determine if the selective ERβ agonist LY500307, when added to antipsychotic medications, improves negative and/or cognitive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The specific hypotheses to be tested are to determine if LY500307 is safe and well tolerated in this population and whether it elicits a sufficient efficacy signal to be advanced for further testing in schizophrenia. A two-stage Phase 1b/Phase 2a adaptive ("drop the inferior dose") experimental design is ongoing that combines three studies (clinical dose optimization, cortical target engagement confirmation and efficacy and safety assessment) into a single clinical trial. Stage 1 was conducted in year 1 and Stage 2 will be conducted in years 2 and 3. The goal of Stage 1 was to identify and advance the highest dose that did not demonstrate a safety signal and had target selectivity as determined by lack of TT suppression. This criteria was fulfilled at both doses, the larger of the two (75 mg/day dose) was advanced to Stage 2. Furthermore, there was no suggestion of ERα receptor activation (i.e., no pattern of TT decreases or feminization AEs) at either dose (25 mg/day and 75 mg/day). A third arm of 150 mg/day was added to Stage 2 for evaluation. Stage 2 results in the following three arms: placebo, 75 mg/day and 150 mg/day. The goals of Stage 2 are to further assess LY500307 doses for safety and target selectivity, confirm cortical target engagement and assess efficacy. Primary Aim 1: To determine if LY500307 demonstrates cortical target engagement as assessed by fMRI/N-back in frontal-parietal regions. Secondary measures of target engagement are fMRI episodic memory, Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling, Mismatch Negativity/evoked response potentials, Auditory Steady State Response, Auditory P300 and Quantitative EEG (QEEG). Primary Aim 2: To determine if LY500307 is superior to placebo for one or more of the primary efficacy endpoints: negative symptoms (Negative Symptom Assessment Scale - 16-item total score), working memory (the composite score for the Letter Number Sequencing and Spatial Span tests) and verbal memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test). Primary Aim 3: To determine if LY500307 reduces total testosterone (TT) plasma concentrations, which is indicative of loss of selectivity for ERβ and engagement of ERα, using the following criteria: Decrease in TT plasma concentrations of 50% from baseline in 50% of subjects per arm treated for two consecutive post-randomization values with LY500307 in Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the trial. Primary Aim 4: To assess the safety of LY500307 by determining if there are SAEs, AEs "probably related to study drug," QTc prolongation, TT suppression (50% reduction from baseline) and to evaluate for other safety signals.
The purpose of this study is to examine thinking abilities, mood, and quality of life in cancer survivors before and after an 8-week group-based memory and thinking skills workshop. Research participants will include people treated for cancer in the past. Researchers would like to know if there is a relationship between baseline performance on timed attention and memory tasks before receiving memory and thinking skills workshop designed to improve cognition, and performance on such tasks after the workshop.
The study was done to elucidate relationships between midlife women's self-reported hot flashes, neuropsychological symptoms, cognitive performance or sleep.
This study aims to test the effect of a newly-approved stimulant medication, lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse), on specific residual symptoms of depression found in some patients who are undergoing treatment with, but have only partially responded to, a selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or selective-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant. Specifically, the investigators hypothesize that symptoms potentially related to deficient dopaminergic activity, such as lassitude, apathy, reduced positive affect and impaired executive function, in particular, will improve. This protocol is designed to test the hypothesis that this cluster of co-occurring residual symptoms sometimes found in treated depression will respond as a group to adjunctive psychostimulant therapy. The investigators propose to demonstrate this cluster of residual depressive symptoms and to measure the effect of stimulant therapy on it. The investigators hope to better understand the specific symptoms in this clinical population that are likely to improve with stimulant therapy.
The project is designed to address the following two primary aims: 1. To determine whether adjunctive oxytocin is superior to placebo for the treatment of persistent negative symptoms, as measured by the SANS total score, in people with schizophrenia. 2. To determine whether adjunctive Galantamine is superior to placebo for the treatment of cognitive impairments, as measured by improvement on a composite neurocognitive score in people with schizophrenia. The investigators will also address the following secondary aims: 1. To determine whether people with schizophrenia treated with adjunctive oxytocin, compared to placebo, will show greater improvement on markers of negative symptom liability including: social affiliation, facial affect recognition, olfactory discrimination, initiation of smooth pursuit and latency of internally-driven saccades. 2. To determine whether people with schizophrenia treated with adjunctive Galantamine, compared to placebo, will show greater improvement on markers of cognitive impairment liability including: predictive pursuit, P50 sensory gating and visual-spatial working memory. The investigators will address the following exploratory aims: 1. To determine whether changes in markers of negative symptom liability are correlated with changes in SANS total score. 2. To determine whether changes in markers of cognitive impairment liability are correlated with changes in the composite neurocognitive score. 3. To determine the response to oxytocin of all cognition domains assessed by the MATRICS battery, and to determine the response to Galantamine of all cognition domains assessed by the MATRICS, which are not included in the primary neurocognitive outcome score. 4. To determine whether there is a differential response of oxytocin and Galantamine on the SANS total score, composite neurocognitive score, and with the phenotypic measures of negative symptom and cognitive impairment liability. 5. To determine whether oxytocin and Galantamine are associated with: * adverse effects on positive or depressive symptoms; * adverse effects on motor symptoms; * adverse effects on laboratory and EKG measures; * increased occurrence of side effects; * social interest that is independent of sexual desire.
This is a pilot study of pregnenolone as an augmentation treatment for schizophrenia. The goal of this placebo-controlled study is to provide preliminary efficacy data for potential pregnenolone effects on cognitive symptoms and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Depressive symptoms and positive symptoms will also be assessed.
This is a sixteen week, randomized, double-blind add-on study of valacyclovir versus placebo in approximately 60 outpatients meeting diagnostic criteria according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) -IV Bipolar I or II disorder, testing positive for HSV-1 and who have demonstrable cognitive impairment defined as a total score of less than 85 (one standard deviation from the normal range) on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Each patient will be randomized to double-blind treatment with either valacyclovir or placebo for sixteen weeks. All subjects will be maintained on a stable regimen of psychiatric drugs prescribed by their treating psychiatrist. Patients will be evaluated every 2 weeks by the treatment team and mood rating scales will be administered at each visit including the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The RBANS will be administered again at 8 and 16 weeks. Both the treatment team and the patient will remain blinded during the course of the study. Following the active treatment phase, patients will receive treatment as clinically indicated. Primary Hypothesis: Valacyclovir will be superior to placebo in reducing cognitive symptoms associated with bipolar disorder in subjects who have been previously infected with Herpes Simplex virus I (HSV-1). Secondary Hypothesis: Valacyclovir will be superior to placebo in reducing mood symptoms associated with bipolar disorder in subjects who have been previously infected with HSV-1.
The purpose of this trial is to study the mood and cognitive effects of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease.
Hypothesis: Schizotypal personality disorder patients will show cognitive improvements in 1) working memory 2) learning and memory 3) sustained attention 4) enhanced performance on the AX-CPT, N-back and Eriksen during pergolide treatment. There will be a significant diagnosis by drug administration of 0.3 mg of oral pergolide interaction for performance on the cognitive tasks, with the schizotypal personality disorder group demonstrating significantly improved peformance compared to the other personality disorder group after pergolide compared with placebo. Design: Randomized, double-blind, crossover study of pergolide vs. placebo. Half of subjects receive pergolide for eight weeks; half of subjects receive placebo for four weeks followed by pergolide for four weeks.
This study is based on the hypothesis that by increasing N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor function in the brain and thereby increasing the capacity of the brain to both form new connections and strengthen existing connections, schizophrenic patients may derive both greater and sustained benefit from cognitive retraining.
Many people with depression are treated with a serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor anti-depressant (SSRI) and feel 'better'. Although many people feel 'better', they do not feel completely 'well'. Often, individuals continue to complain of cognitive problems such as lack of attention, diminished motivation, and impaired problem-solving. This study looks at whether residual and cognitive symptoms of depression in individuals are affected by the addition of Wellbutrin (bupropion).
The Researchers are trying to better understand if behavioral interventions can help improve memory compensation and engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviors in those with memory concerns but normal mental status exam.
The investigators overall research hypothesis is that systemic chemotherapy induces structural changes in the white matter of the brain as demonstrated with Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and functional changes in well-defined cortical neural networks as demonstrated by resting-state functional connectivity MRI (rs-fcMRI). The investigators believe these structural and functional changes are responsible for the cognitive symptoms associated with chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI). The Specific Aim for this study is: To assess the impact of chemotherapy on structural white matter as defined by DTI and functional cognitive networks as defined by rs-fcMRI by comparing a sample of breast cancer survivors with self-reported CICI to breast cancer survivors without CICI. Hypothesis: Post-chemotherapy breast cancer patients with self-reported CICI will have abnormal structural connections characterized by DTI-defined disruptions in fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) and abnormal functional connectivity characterized by rs-fcMRI-defined disruptions in cognitive networks when compared to patients without self-reported CICI.
The purpose of this study is to learn more about how brain stimulation affects word finding problems in people who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The type of brain stimulation used is called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). tDCS delivers low levels of electric current to the brain and high definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) delivers the current with multiple electrodes on the scalp. This current is delivered with HD-tDCS to parts of the brain that may help with remembering things. The investigators hope that this can help to improve word finding and memory problems in people with TBI.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital are looking to see if a program created to help improve thinking and memory can work for refugees and asylum seekers with traumatic brain injury (TBI). They're checking if this program is practical and if people find it helpful. The study will have two groups, and people will be assigned to a group by chance. One group will participate in the program and answer questionnaires before starting the program and then one month and three months after the end of the program. The other group will answer a questionnaire after they enroll, then one month and three months after enrollment. People in this second group will have the option to participate in the program after three months.
The goal of this study is to investigate a new treatment for chronic symptoms after concussion or mild traumatic brain injury in people aged 18-65 years old. Chronic symptoms could include dizziness, headache, fatigue, brain fog, memory difficulty, sleep disruption, irritability, or anxiety that occurred or worsened after the injury. These symptoms can interfere with daily functioning, causing difficulty returning to physical activity, work, or school. Previous concussion therapies have not been personalized nor involved direct treatments to the brain itself. The treatment being tested in the present study is a noninvasive, personalized form of brain stimulation, called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The investigators intend to answer the questions: 1. Does personalized TMS improve brain connectivity after concussion? 2. Does personalized TMS improve avoidance behaviors and chronic concussive symptoms? 3. Do the improvements last up to 2 months post-treatment? 4. Are there predictors of treatment response, or who might respond the best? Participants will undergo 14 total visits to University of California Los Angeles (UCLA): 1. One for the baseline symptom assessments and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 2. Ten for TMS administration 3. Three for post-treatment symptom assessments and MRIs Participants will have a 66% chance of being assigned to an active TMS group and 33% chance of being assigned to a sham, or inactive, TMS group. The difference is that the active TMS is more likely to cause functional changes in the brain than the inactive TMS.
This clinical trial aims to investigate the effects of a 70-day consumption of cranberry juice on cognitive and motor accuracy, mental and physiological stress, and stress response in healthy men and women between the ages of 30 and 55 who engage in multitasking. The trial will utilize a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design. It is worth noting that studies have shown that over half of middle-aged Americans experience stress, which can lead to cognitive decline and depression. Previous clinical trials have indicated that consuming polyphenol-rich foods can have positive effects on cognitive function in humans. However, no study to date has examined the long-term effects of cranberry juice consumption on cognitive performance, mental stress, and stress response specifically in individuals engaged in multitasking. Based on this gap in knowledge, the investigators hypothesize the following: (1) chronic consumption of cranberry juice will improve cognitive and motor accuracy, as well as mental and psychological stress responses in young adults subjected to intense multitasking. (2) cranberry juice consumption will alleviate the negative consequences of frequent intense multitasking, such as fatigue, mood fluctuations, cognitive impairment, and memory issues. Additionally, it is expected to have a positive impact on stress biomarkers and neurotransmitter levels. By conducting this clinical trial, the investigators aim to shed light on the potential benefits of cranberry juice consumption in improving cognitive performance, mitigating mental stress, and positively influencing stress responses in individuals who engage in intense multitasking.
The goal of this study is to explore cognitive burden perceptions among physicians in relation to case report writing. Furthermore, this study evaluates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) assistance as a tool to reduce cognitive burden among providers preparing and submitting case reports. If an AI-tool is helpful in this setting, it may potentially help increase reporting of rare medical events and thereby improve the evidence base for care of these patient populations. This study will occur at a single time point which is expected to last approximately 2 hours. This session will include reviewing two rare tumor cases and then writing a clinical vignette with and without AI assistance.
This study will investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhances the effects of computerized cognitive training in older adults with recurrent depression (2 or more lifetime episodes; either current or within past 3 years).
The study will assess whether Niagen, a safe dietary supplement, improves recovery of COVID-19 related symptoms in individuals who were infected at least 2 months prior to study entry ("Long-COVID" "Long-haulers"). 60% of participants will receive Niagen and 40% will receive PBO. Outcomes will consist of standardized cognitive, neuropsychiatric, physical, functional and biomarker assessments.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the health related benefits of a superfoods nutrition supplement on health related quality of life.
Objectives: * First, to determine if patients with a history of AF have acute measurable changes in cognitive functioning while in an episode of AF. * Second, to collect basic insight into what specific physiologic (blood pressure, pulse oximetry, heart rate, temperature) and pharmacologic (antiarrhythmic medications, rate control medications, anticoagulants, antiplatelet medications, etc.) factors minimize the neurological impact on patients while they are in AF. It is hypothesized that when using a tablet-based cognitive testing software - Cambridge Cognition (specifically to assess executive function, learning and working memory: Rapid Visual Information Processing test, Spatial Working Memory/Spatial Span Task tests, One touch Stockings of Cambridge test, Cambridge Gambling Task, Multitasking Test/Intra-Extra Dimensional Set shift tests) - a significant difference will be noted between how the patients perform while in atrial fibrillation compared to the patients' performance while in normal sinus rhythm.
This study will use non-invasive neuroimaging (i.e., MRI) to examine whether Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) improves neural markers of cognitive function for postmenopausal women taking aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy for breast cancer. The pilot randomized controlled trial will obtain preliminary efficacy of MBSR versus Health Enhancement Program (HEP) active control to improve neural markers of cognitive function. The final sample will include 32 postmenopausal women with breast cancer. MBSR and HEP groups will meet for a matched schedule of 8 weekly 2.5-hour sessions and a one-day weekend retreat. Specimen and data collection will be done at three time points: pre-randomization (i.e., within three weeks before beginning the intervention), within three weeks after completion of the intervention, and approximately three months (+/- three weeks) post intervention. Change scores for neuroimaging parameter estimates will be correlated with change scores for measures of cognitive function and affect. Differential expression of genes will be correlated with neuroimaging parameter estimates.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of a structured rehabilitation program on cognitive function and quality of life in individuals with blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI).
Between 1 and 5 percent of patients who have coronary artery bypass surgery suffer a stroke following surgery, and 30 percent have new brain lesions that do not produce symptoms and are seen only on MRI. In addition, up to 40 percent of patients develop long-term cognitive impairment. This study will identify risk factors that predict whether a person undergoing heart surgery will develop cerebral infarcts after surgery. It will also identify operative and inflammatory factors that may alter the risk, and will evaluate whether the small lesions are associated with cognitive decline at 6 months. People 18 years of age or older who will undergo coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), heart valve replacement, or combined CABG and valve replacement procedure are eligible for this study. Candidates must have no neurological or cognitive impairment before surgery. Participants will undergo standard medical and surgical treatment as determined by their physicians. In addition, they have the following procedures: * Medical and neurological evaluation before surgery and 24 and 48 hours after surgery. * Brain MRI before surgery, and 48 hours, 30 days and 6 months after surgery. * Blood draws before surgery, immediately after surgery, and 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery to quantify the response of their inflammatory system to surgery. * Neuropsychological examinations 30 days and 6 months after surgery. * In addition, patients who agree to enroll in a substudy that will explore whether differences in the genes coding for inflammatory molecules lead to a change in the risk of iscjhemia after heart surgery, will have extra blood drawn for genetic analysis.