Mild Cognitive Impairment clinical trials at University of California Health
23 in progress, 16 open to eligible people
A Study of Senicapoc in Alzheimer’s Disease
“Volunteer for research and contribute to discoveries that may improve health care for you, your family, and your community!”
open to eligible people ages 55-85
Development of novel disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains of paramount importance. This study will be a Phase II randomized clinical trial testing Senicapoc in patients with mild or prodromal AD. This will be a small Proof of Mechanism study to prove biological activity and target engagement in humans with early AD. The investigators will study up to 55 patients over 52 weeks, with primary outcomes being Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) scores and blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of neuroinflammation. This pilot study will provide an estimate of treatment effect size on cognitive trajectory, daily function, and brain atrophy.
at UC Davis
Brain Health Together: A Live-Streaming Group-Based Digital Program
open to eligible people ages 55-85
The purpose of this study is to develop and test a comprehensive Brain Health Together program for older adults living with cognitive decline.
at UCSF
Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy for Mild Cognitive Impairment
open to eligible people ages 55 years and up
The number of older Veterans with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) seeking care within the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system is increasing and is expected to increase more rapidly as Vietnam era Veterans age. The cognitive effects of MCI and subsequent neurodegenerative disorders can adversely affect a Veteran's ability to function independently and failure to provide appropriate intervention can result in an increased need for healthcare services and VA benefits in the future. The VA currently spends over $19,000 annually per patient to care for Veterans with dementia (Zhu et al., 2009), and delaying the onset of dementia even by one to two years will result in substantial financial savings to the VA and quality of life gains for the Veteran. Since present pharmacological interventions have demonstrated limited efficacy, alternative treatments are needed. Therefore, an evidence-based cognitive training intervention that optimally addresses the needs of older Veterans with MCI is of critical importance to the VA patient care mission.
at UCSD
In-Home Technology for Caregivers of People With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Rural Homes
open to eligible people ages 18 years and up
This study aims to develop, evaluate, and commercialize an in-home supportive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in spousal and familial caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment in rural homes.
at UCSF
In-Home Technology for Caregivers of People With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Spanish Language Homes
open to eligible people ages 18 years and up
This study aims to develop, evaluate, and commercialize an in-home supportive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in spousal and familial caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment in Spanish language homes.
at UCSF
In-Home Technology for Caregivers of People With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Wearables
open to eligible people ages 18 years and up
This study aims to develop, evaluate, and commercialize an in-home supportive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in spousal and familial caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive impairment by integrating wearable devices (e.g., Apple Watches).
at UCSF
Modulation of Hippocampal Circuitry and Memory Function With Focused Ultrasound in Amnestic MCI
open to eligible people ages 50-90
This study is a proof of concept/proof of mechanism study addressing the hypothesis that Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Pulsation (LIFUP) targeting the entorhinal cortex can (A) successfully target and increase activity in the entorhinal cortex and functionally connected brain regions (B) improve connectivity of memory networks (C) improve memory for information (D) have a dose-dependent effect on memory and brain activity. A secondary objective is to determine the relationship between blood-based AD biomarkers and LIFUP treatment outcomes, and the relationship between magnitude of HC volume decline and LIFUP treatment outcomes.
at UCLA
Multi-domain Online Therapeutic Investigation Of Neurocognition (MOTION)
open to eligible people ages 55 years and up
The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of three on-line wellness interventions for improving physical and cognitive function and brain connectivity in adults who are at least 55 years old and are experiencing symptoms of memory and/or cognitive difficulties.
at UCLA UCSF
Network-targeted Theta-burst Stimulation for Episodic Memory Improvement in Mild Cognitive Impairment
open to eligible people ages 55-90
The purpose of this study is to see if stimulation of the brain can improve memory. The investigators will use a device called transcranial magnetic stimulation that can stimulate and activate a specific part of the brain that is important for memory. The study will enroll MCI subjects who will be randomly assigned to receive active or sham brain stimulation. 'Blinded' or 'sham-controlled' means that the subject will not know whether the treatment they receive is the active treatment or the non-active stimulation. In the 'sham' condition, the stimulator will turn on but will not actually be stimulating the target brain region.
at UCLA
Neurofeedback to Improve Working Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment
open to eligible people ages 50-85
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been identified as an early phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder expected to affect 13.9 million Americans by 2060. AD causes a progressive cognitive decline, including problems related to learning and memory, that adversely affects life quality. Treatment intervention at the MCI stage of the disease could potentially slow down the rate at which people may convert from MCI to AD. Increasing evidence suggests that abnormal activity in frontal regions of the brain is associated with cognitive deficits observed in AD. Furthermore, previous research has shown that neurofeedback (NFB) training targeting these regions can improve memory, making it a potential treatment for AD. NFB is a technique where an individual learns to change his/her brain function in a particular direction, once that function has been made accessible through a visual or auditory metaphor. We are proposing a novel, computer-based brain-training program to enhance frontal gamma oscillatory activity in individuals with MCI. Results from this study will build the scientific foundation necessary for larger clinical trials dedicated to improving treatment options and outcomes for patients with MCI.
at UCSD
Sleep-SMART for Veterans
open to eligible people ages 60 years and up
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. However, cognitive impairments may limit progress in CBT-I for older Veterans with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This study will develop and pilot test Sleep-SMART (Sleep Symptom Management and Rehabilitation Therapy), an adapted CBT-I treatment that incorporates Cognitive Symptom Management and Rehabilitation Therapy (CogSMART) principles with a goal of improving sleep treatment and rehabilitation outcomes for Veterans with co-occurring MCI and insomnia. The innovation of this study centers on enhancing CBT-I by providing supportive cognitive strategies designed to improve treatment adherence, learning, and acceptability. The investigators anticipate that by improving sleep it can concurrently improve daily functioning, increase quality of life, prevent or reduce late-life disability, and mitigate long-term cognitive decline in this Veteran population.
at UCSD
Wayfinding Intervention and Long-Term Memory
open to eligible people ages 60-85
Therapeutic treatment is yet available for declining memory, which is an impairment affecting the quality of life for many older adults and patients with cognitive impairment. Cognitive training with an immersive video game promises to drive hippocampal-cortical plasticity and associated gains that can restore memory capability or provide therapeutic treatment for memory deficits.
at UCSF
Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 3 (ADNI3) Protocol
open to eligible people ages 55-90
Since its launch in 2004, the overarching aim of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) has been realized in informing the design of therapeutic trials in AD. ADNI3 continues the previously funded ADNI-1, ADNI-GO, and ADNI-2 studies that have been combined public/private collaborations between academia and industry to determine the relationships between the clinical, cognitive, imaging, genetic and biochemical biomarker characteristics of the entire spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The overall goal of the study is to continue to discover, optimize, standardize, and validate clinical trial measures and biomarkers used in AD research.
at UC Davis UC Irvine UCLA UCSD UCSF
Living Alone in Old Age With Cognitive Impairment
open to eligible people ages 55 years and up
The purpose of this study is to better understand the experience of living alone in older age with cognitive impairment. We recruit adults 55+ living alone with cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. This study investigates the priorities and concerns of older adults living alone with cognitive impairment. Participants are interviewed 5 times for one hour in their homes within 3 months at a time that works for them.
at UCSF
Longitudinal Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease Study Protocol
open to eligible people ages 40-64
The Longitudinal Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease Study (LEADS) is a non-randomized, natural history, non-treatment study designed to look at disease progression in individuals with early onset cognitive impairment. Clinical, cognitive, imaging, biomarker, and genetic characteristics will be assessed across three cohorts: (1) early onset Alzheimer's Disease (EOAD) participants, (2) early onset non-Alzheimer's Disease (EOnonAD) participants, and (3) cognitively normal (CN) control participants.
at UCLA UCSF
Remote Cognitive Assessment for Surgical Patients
open to eligible people ages 65-99
This is a pilot study to evaluate the use of remote cognitive testing to identify patients who may have cognitive vulnerability and may benefit from cognitive care pathways. Participants in this study are asked to complete a smartphone battery of thinking, memory, speech, and motor function tests on their smartphone.
at UCSF
Assessing and Improving the Durability of Compensatory Cognitive Training for Older Veterans
Sorry, not yet accepting patients
Veterans have numerous risk factors (e.g., PTSD, TBI, cerebrovascular problems) for later-life cognitive and functional decline. Evidence supports the effectiveness of strategy-based cognitive rehabilitation therapies, including compensatory cognitive training (CCT), for such decline. However, questions remain about the length of time that CCT-driven improvements in cognitive and everyday function last, and whether additional 'booster' training sessions could provide additional benefit to aging Veterans who previously underwent treatment. This study examines the long-term durability of CCT in Veterans aged 55+ and provides an opportunity to develop and pilot test a series of CCT booster sessions that can be personalized toward individual everyday functional goals.
at UCSD
Deep Brain Stimulation With LIFUP for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Alzheimer's Disease
Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients
The purpose of the proposed study is to determine the feasibility of brief brain stimulation, using a device called Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Pulsation (LIFUP), for persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild (early-stage) Alzheimer's disease (AD). As a secondary aim, the investigators will explore whether this brief intervention is associated with improvements in cognitive functioning immediately and one week following the intervention. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups: either the LIFUP administration will be designed to increase the activity of neurons in a certain part of the brain or decrease the activity of neurons. The investigators will study up to 8 subjects with MCI or mild AD. Initially, subjects will undergo a screening assessment with a study physician to determine medical and psychiatric history, establish AD diagnosis, and undergo a blood draw, if standard recent labs for dementia and EKG are unavailable. Subjects that meet criteria and agree to participate in the study will undergo a follow-up visit. In the baseline measurement visit, participants will first undergo neuropsychological testing. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two LIFUP pulsing paradigms. Participants will then be administered four successive LIFUP treatments while the participants are in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sixty minutes following the administration, participants will undergo a second neuropsychological test. A final follow-up assessment will be administered at one week.
at UCLA
Phase II Trial of Tesamorelin for Cognition in Aging HIV-Infected Persons
Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients
The aim of this study is to test whether tesamorelin, in combination with a text-messaging application to help with motivation and adherence, will significantly improve memory and thinking in HIV.
at UCSD UCSF
RCT of Brain Longitudinal Biomarker Study (OPT-Neuro RCT)
Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients
The purpose of this study is to assess which antidepressants work the best in older adults who have treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and to test whether treatment-resistant late life depression is associated with declines in memory and attention and brain structure and function.
at UCLA
The Active Mind Trial: An Adaptive Randomized Trial to Improve Function and Delay Dementia
Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients
Older adults at risk for dementia show a variety of cognitive deficits, which can be ameliorated by different cognitive training (CT) exercises. The best combination of CT exercises is unknown. The aim is to discover the most efficacious combination of CT exercises as compared to cognitive stimulation (which will serve as a stringent, active control) to modify the functional trajectories of older adults' with MCI, who are at high risk for dementia. The primary objective of the U01 phase is to design and pilot-test an adaptive, randomized clinical trial (RCT) of cognitive training (CT) combinations aimed to enhance performance of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) among persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The longitudinal endpoint goal is reducing incident dementia. The primary aim of the study is to determine which CT combination has the best probability to delay dementia by producing the largest IADL improvements. The study further aims to explore neuroimaging and novel blood-based biomarkers.
at UCSF
The Digital Memory Notebook: Training to Improve Everyday Functioning in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Sorry, accepting new patients by invitation only
Compensatory aids (e.g., alarms, calendars) play an important supporting role when completing everyday tasks (e.g., appointments, medication management), and there is a growing body of scientific work suggesting that compensatory training improves daily functioning. However, traditional paper-based calendars and to-do-lists have limitations related to accumulation of information, difficulty retrieving information, and remembering to complete activities. Such limitations may be overcome using a digital format through organized digital files, search functions, and alarms. This pilot project proposes to train older adults at risk for cognitive decline to use the Digital Memory Notebook (DMN), a tablet-based application (app), to support everyday functioning. The primary goal is to obtain preliminary evidence that a 6-week, individual and group-based DMN training intervention results in demonstrable changes in target behaviors (e.g., goal-directed DMN use to support everyday activities) among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC). Participants will complete a curriculum involving 2-hour weekly sessions for 6-weeks. Each week will cover a specific function of the DMN and will include standardized goal-setting and weekly homework targets. Following the 6-week intervention, participants will continue to use the DMN app for 4-weeks to evaluate stability. Participants will complete a questionnaire packet 1 week prior to the 6-week intervention, 1 week after the 6-week intervention, and 5 weeks following the 6-week intervention. MCI and SCC participants will complete separate 6-week individual or group interventions spaced two months apart at UCD.
at UC Davis
Longitudinal Observational Biomarker Study
Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients
The purpose of this study is to test whether treatment-resistant late life depression is associated with declines in memory and attention and brain structure and function.
at UCLA
Our lead scientists for Mild Cognitive Impairment research studies include Peter Ljubenkov, MD Gil Rabinovici, MD Adam Staffaroni, PhD Deborah E Barnes, PhD, MPH Elena Portacolone, PhD MPH MBA Mario Mendez, MD, PhD Ronald J Ellis, MD, PhD Linda L Chao, PhD James Brewer, MD, PhD Elizabeth W. Twamley, PhD Sarah Farias, PhD Gaby Thai, MD John Olichney, MD Nanthia Suthana Odmara Barreto Chang, MD, PhD Fiza Singh Peter E Wais, PhD Susan Y Bookheimer, PhD.
Last updated: