Ignite Creation Date:
2024-05-06 @ 8:18 PM
Last Modification Date:
2024-10-26 @ 3:24 PM
Study NCT ID:
NCT06321380
Status:
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Last Update Posted:
2024-03-20
First Post:
2024-02-05
Brief Title:
Working Memory Functioning in Alzheimers Disease and Vascular Dementia
Sponsor:
University Hospital Grenoble
Organization:
University Hospital Grenoble
Study Overview
Official Title:
Efficacy of Working Memory Maintenance Mechanisms in Alzheimers Disease and Vascular Dementia
Status:
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Status Verified Date:
2024-03
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
MEMTRAV-COG
Brief Summary:
The aim of the present study is to investigate potential cognitive mechanisms contributing to working memory impairment in Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia The investigators consider a new hypothesis suggesting that difficulties in mobilizing maintenance strategies of information could explain this working memory deficit More specifically the investigators assume that patient groups will have difficulties in employing both refreshing and elaborative strategies during a working memory task ie complex span task as compared to a control group
Detailed Description:
Working memory is considered as a central hub in human cognition Good working memory capacities are fundamental for daily life However previous research has indicated that patients with Alzheimers disease or vascular dementia have significant working memory impairment Currently there is no consensus on the cognitive mechanisms responsible for this deficit Prior findings have highlighted that patients with Alzheimers disease andor vascular dementia demonstrate specific difficulties in dual-task situations In this context the investigators hypothesize that the continuous alternation between maintenance and processing phases involved in working memory could be impaired for these patients Thus the aim of the present study is to investigate if patients with Alzheimers disease andor vascular dementia can use maintenance strategies of information in working memory as typically observed in individuals without cognitive impairments
To this end the investigators propose a short working memory task in which they manipulate the opportunities to use refreshing strategies and elaborative strategies The investigators expect that patients with Alzheimers disease vascular dementia or mixed dementia will benefit less than healthy older adults from the increased opportunities to employ refreshing and elaboration These difficulties could account for the impaired working memory performance associated with these diseases
In a second step the investigators formulate distinctive hypotheses between patient sub-groups
On the one hand Alzheimers disease is characterized by salient impairment of episodic long-term memory Consequently the investigators hypothesize that the working memory decline could be related to this deficit in long-term memory Specifically patients with Alzheimers disease would have greater difficulty in implementing elaboration strategies Thus these patients recall performance should benefit less from semantic links between the to-be-remembered items compared to patients with vascular dementia
On the other hand vascular dementia is characterized by a significant impairment of executive functioning Thus the investigators hypothesize that the working memory decline could be related to difficulties in implementing refreshing strategies ie voluntary control of attention Thus the recall performance of these patients should benefit less from increased free time during the task compared to patients with Alzheimers disease
Finally very few studies have been carried out on patients with mixed dementia from both Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia The investigators assume that the recall performance of these patients will benefit less from elaborative opportunities compared to patients with dementia vascular and less from refreshing opportunities compared to patients with Alzheimers disease
To this end the investigators propose a short working memory task in which they manipulate the opportunities to use refreshing strategies and elaborative strategies The investigators expect that patients with Alzheimers disease vascular dementia or mixed dementia will benefit less than healthy older adults from the increased opportunities to employ refreshing and elaboration These difficulties could account for the impaired working memory performance associated with these diseases
In a second step the investigators formulate distinctive hypotheses between patient sub-groups
On the one hand Alzheimers disease is characterized by salient impairment of episodic long-term memory Consequently the investigators hypothesize that the working memory decline could be related to this deficit in long-term memory Specifically patients with Alzheimers disease would have greater difficulty in implementing elaboration strategies Thus these patients recall performance should benefit less from semantic links between the to-be-remembered items compared to patients with vascular dementia
On the other hand vascular dementia is characterized by a significant impairment of executive functioning Thus the investigators hypothesize that the working memory decline could be related to difficulties in implementing refreshing strategies ie voluntary control of attention Thus the recall performance of these patients should benefit less from increased free time during the task compared to patients with Alzheimers disease
Finally very few studies have been carried out on patients with mixed dementia from both Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia The investigators assume that the recall performance of these patients will benefit less from elaborative opportunities compared to patients with dementia vascular and less from refreshing opportunities compared to patients with Alzheimers disease
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
False
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
False
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?:
None