The Influence of Vascular Burden, Amyloid Plaque and Tau Protein in Patients With Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia With Tauopathy

Launched by CHANG GUNG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL · Mar 13, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating how certain brain changes, specifically amyloid plaques and tau proteins, are related to cognitive problems in patients with conditions like vascular cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and fronto-temporal dementia. Researchers want to understand how these brain changes interact with blood vessel injuries that can happen after a stroke, which may contribute to memory and thinking difficulties. To do this, they will use advanced brain imaging techniques and tests to assess the cognitive abilities of participants over time.

Participants in this study include adults aged 20 and older with various cognitive impairments, such as those diagnosed with vascular cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, fronto-temporal dementia, or progressive supranuclear palsy. There is also a group of healthy volunteers for comparison. Those who join the trial can expect to undergo brain scans and cognitive tests, with follow-up assessments after 18 months. It’s important to note that participants should be able to provide informed consent and have a caregiver to assist them if needed. Overall, this study aims to shed light on how different brain changes affect thinking skills in individuals with dementia-related conditions.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Inclusion criteria for VCI (Group A, n=80)
• • Males or females with age \>= 20 years old.
• • Patients fulfill the AHA/ASA criteria for vascular cognitive impairment.
• • Provision of signed informed consent from the subject and the subject's legally authorized representative or caregiver (if applicable).
• • The subject has an appropriate caregiver capable of accompanying the subject, if necessary.
• • 2. Inclusion criteria for AD / MCI (Group B, n=120)
• • Males or females with age \>= 20 years old.
• • Patients fulfill the National Institute on Aging (NIA) - Alzheimer's Association Diagnostic Guidelines.
• • Provision of signed informed consent from the subject and the subject's legally authorized representative or caregiver (if applicable).
• • The subject has an appropriate caregiver capable of accompanying the subject, if necessary.
• • 3. Inclusion criteria for FTD (Group C, n=30)
• • Males or females with age \>= 20 years old.
• • Patients fulfill the criteria of probable FTD.
• • Provision of signed informed consent from the subject and the subject's legally authorized representative or caregiver (if applicable).
• • The subject has an appropriate caregiver capable of accompanying the subject, if necessary.
• • 4. Inclusion criteria for normal control (Group D, n=30)
• • Males or females with age \>= 20 years old.
• • Provision of signed informed consent.
• • 5. Inclusion criteria for PSP (Group E, n=80)
• • Males or females with age \>= 20 years old
• • Patients fulfill the 2017 Movement Disorder Society criteria of PSP.
• • Provision of signed informed consent from the subject and the subject's legally authorized representative or caregiver (if applicable)
• • The subject has an appropriate caregiver capable of accompanying the subject, if necessary.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Life expectancy less than 1 year.
• • Clinically significant abnormal laboratory values (such as AST/ALT \>= 3X of upper normal limits).
• • Clinically significant or unstable medical or psychiatric illness.
• • Epilepsy history.
• • Cognitive impairment resulting from trauma or brain damage.
• • Substance abuse or alcoholism in the past 3 months.
• • Stroke history within the recent 3 months.