Cholinergic Modulation of Human Memory and Attention: Functional Neuroimaging Studies
Data Collection
Mental Disorders+6
+ Brain Diseases
+ Central Nervous System Diseases
Summary
Study start date: January 1, 2000
Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.The goal of this research project is to determine the role of cholinergic neuromodulation in the functional organization of memory and attention in humans, using functional neuroimaging techniques. The study of human cognition with functional brain imaging in conjunction with pharmacologic probes that alter cognitive processes provides an opportunity to examine another dimension of the organization of human neural systems. In addition to identifying the anatomical structures that participate in specific cognitive functions, this approach can reveal how different neuromodulators can influence processing in those structures. Additionally, the combined use of functional brain imaging and pharmacological manipulation can be used to evaluate the role of neurotransmitter dysfunction in disease states that produce cognitive impairment and may direct us to potential therapeutic approaches.
Protocol
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.70 patients to be enrolled
Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.Eligibility
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.Any sex
Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.Healthy volunteers allowed
If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.Conditions
Pathology
Criteria
Three groups of subjects will be enrolled: Subjects with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) 45-100 years of age; Healthy controls 20-50 years of age; Healthy controls 50-90 years of age. No evidence of, or history of, any medical, neurological or psychiatric condition (other than dementia in the AD patient group) which may affect brain function and metabolism and/or represent a contraindication to the study; including learning disability, psychiatric condition, head trauma with loss of consciousness, seizures or other neurological conditions, alcoholism or substance abuse, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other endocrine diseases, malignancy. No subjects with vision and/or hearing problems severe enough to interfere with testing. No females with a positive pregnancy test. No subjects with contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including pacemakers, cochlear implants, surgical clips or metal fragments in their eyes or body parts. Only subjects with good health and without evidence of significant chronic disease will be accepted into the healthy control groups. Only patients without evidence of significant chronic disease who meet standard clinical criteria for the diagnosis of dementia of Alzheimer's disease type will be accepted into the study in the AD group.
Study Centers
These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.This study has 1 location
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Bethesda, United StatesOpen National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Google Maps