Cognitive Decline clinical trials at UCSF

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a comprehensive Brain Health Together program for older adults living with cognitive decline.

WHO: 40 participants with a confirmed diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) able to engage in moderate physical activity. WHY: The purpose of this study is to evaluate two computerized brain training tools, which include light physical activity, to see if they can help improve cognitive functions, such as memory and attention, for patients with MS. WHAT: Complete a set of tests (physical and cognitive) at baseline, wear a Fitbit Flex device at home for the duration of the study, 3 supervised sessions for 4 weeks at UCSF, one visit for physical and cognitive tests at one week after the final supervised session, and one final visit 6 months after the final supervised session. WHERE: 20 participants at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences (675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA); 20 participants at Lausanne University Hospital (Rue du Bugnon 46, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland)

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 was 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). In the R01 phase, the objective is to identify the best combination of CT exercises to delay dementia onset among persons with 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.