Alzheimer Disease, Epilepsy, Lewy Body Disease
Conditions
Brief summary
In the current study, the investigators will examine the extent of subclinical epileptic activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease and patients with Lewy body dementia as compared to healthy elderly controls. The participants will wear a new device called ear-EEG, which makes it possible to record EEG for longer periods of time while at home. Furthermore, the investigators want to investigate whether there is an association between subclinical epileptic activity and the cerebral blood flow as measured with functional MRI.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Zealand University Hospital
Rigshospitalet, Denmark
University of Aarhus
T&W Engineering A/S
Danish Dementia Research Centre
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
(Alzheimer's disease): * Meet the criteria for probable Alzheimer's disease with amnestic presentation as described in the NIA-AA criteria (McKhann 2011) * The diagnosis has been made by either a neurologist, psychiatrist or a geriatrician at the memory clinic at Rigshospitalet or Zealand University Hospital * The participant is between 50 and 90 years old * The MMSE score is between 16-28 * The participant does not wear a hearing aid * The participant is a native Danish speaker * The participant has at least attended school for 7 years * The participants' hearing and vision is sufficient to participate in neuropsychological tests * The participants' general condition of health allows that the participant can cooperate with the trial * The participant does not suffer from psychiatric diseases (except mild depressive symptoms or mild depression) or neurological diseases that affect the brain other than Alzheimer's disease * The treatment with anti-dementia medication or SSRI drugs have been given in stable dose for at least 3 months up to the inclusion and the doctor including the participant estimates that treatment will not change within the next 6 months * No overuse of alcohol or intake of illegal drugs within the last 2 years * The participant has previously undergone a CT or MRI scan, which is compatible with Alzheimer's disease * The participant does not have any contraindications for MRI or MRI contrast * The participant is living with another person, who is willing to take part in the trial, and who is together with the person long enough to observe the behavior (if any epileptic activity should arise)
Exclusion criteria
(Alzheimer's disease): * Diagnosis of epilepsy prior to the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was made * Other focal pathology in the hippocampus for example hippocampal sclerosis * The person living with the participant is not able to participate (e.g. due to a serious disease or disability) in the clinical visits or able to register behavior suspected of epilepsy * The participant is living in a nursing home * The participant is treated with antiepileptic medication, tricyclic antidepressants or antipsychotics * Daily or nearly daily intake of medication known to have an anticholinergic or an adrenergic effect, which is suspected to affect the cognitive abilities or the EEG * Large brain infarctions or more than 4 lacunar infarcts * The participants is suffering from uncontrollable movements of the face as for example oral dyskinesia Inclusion Criteria (Lewy body dementia): * Meet the criteria for Lewy body dementia as described in dementia with Lewy body consortium (McKeith 2017) * The diagnose has been made by either a neurologist, psychiatrist or a geriatrician at the memory clinic at Rigshospitalet or Zealand University Hospital * The participant is between 50 and 90 years old * The MMSE score is between 16-28 * The participant does not wear a hearing aid * The participant is a native Danish speaker * The participant has at least attended school for 7 years * The participants' hearing and vision is sufficient to participate in neuropsychological tests * The participants' general condition of health allows that the participant can cooperate with the trial * The participant does not suffer from psychiatric diseases (except mild depressive symptoms or mild depression) or neurological diseases that affect the brain other than Lewy body dementia * The treatment with anti-dementia medication or SSRI drugs have been given in stable dose for at least 3 months up to the inclusion and the doctor including the participant estimates that treatment will not change within the next 6 months * No overuse of alcohol or intake of illegal drugs within the last 2 years * The participant does not have any contraindications for MRI or MRI contrast * The participant is living with another person, who is willing to take part in the trial, and who is together with the person long enough to observe the behavior (if any epileptic activity should arise)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility study: Investigate whether patients with Alzheimer's disease are able wear ear-EEG for longer than 24 hours during a 48 hours period | 8 months | If it is possible for patients with Alzheimer's disease to wear ear-EEG for at least 24 hours including 5 hours of sleep during a 48 hours period |
| Epileptic activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia as compared to healthy elderly controls | 2 years | Compare the prevalence and type of paroxysmal activity as measured with the ear-EEG in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia as compared to healthy elderly controls |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The correlation between cerebral blood flow and paroxysmal acitivity | 2 years | Compare the amount of paroxysmal activity as measured with ear-EEG and the cerebral blood flow (rCBF) as measured with arterial spin labeling fMRI in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia |
Countries
Denmark
Outcome results
None listed