MIMA Pilot Study: MIcrostructure of the Medial Temporal Lobe in Early Alzheimer's Disease

Launched by RENNES UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · Oct 19, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The MIMA Pilot Study is researching early signs of Alzheimer's disease in people who show mild cognitive problems or have concerns about their memory. The goal is to find a quick and affordable way to identify individuals at risk of developing Alzheimer's, which could help delay the disease's onset and significantly reduce the number of people affected. The study will use a special type of MRI called diffusion MRI, which looks at changes in brain structure that may be linked to memory issues caused by Alzheimer’s.

To participate, individuals must be between 50 and 80 years old, speak French, and have at least a primary school education. They should not have other medical conditions that could affect their thinking, aside from mild cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive decline. Participants will undergo non-invasive MRI scans and memory assessments. This trial is important because it aims to improve early detection methods for Alzheimer’s, potentially leading to better care and treatment options in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • aged between 50 and 80
• • native French speaking
• • right-handed
• • with a level of education equal to or higher than the Certificat d'Etudes Primaires (primary school leaving certificate)
• • free of any medical or psychiatric condition likely to interfere with cognition, other than a diagnosis of SCD / MCI
• • affiliated with a social security scheme
• • having received oral and written information abou the protocol and having signed a consent form to participate in this research
• • patients with 'subjective cognitive decline-plus' (hereafter 'SCD', criteria of Jessen et al., 2014) or patients with mild neurocognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (hereafter 'MCI', criteria of Albert et al., 2011)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • contraindications to MRI : Abdominal circumference + upper limbs stuck to the body \> 200 cm; Implantable pacemaker or defibrillator; Neurosurgical clips; Cochlear implants ; Neural or peripheral stimulator; Intra-orbital or encephalic metallic foreign bodies; Endoprostheses fitted less than 4 weeks ago and osteosynthesis devices fitted less than 6 weeks ago; Claustrophobia.
• • sensory deficit interfering with experimental tests
• • pregnant or breast-feeding women
• • adults under legal protection (safeguard of justice, curatorship, guardianship), persons deprived of liberty
• • 7-items modified Hachinski ischemic score \>2 (Hachinski et al., 2012)
• • Dementia (McKhann et al., 2011)