NCT04020744

Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback in Patients With MCI

Targeting Hippocampal Hyperactivity With Real-time Functional MRI Based Neurofeedback in Elderly Individuals With and Without Memory Problems

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 84 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Bern · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Increased activity in the hippocampus (i.e., hyperactivity) during a fMRI memory task was found in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI). Those with increased hippocampal activity exhibited elevated clinical progression. Reducing hippocampal hyperactivity with pharmacological treatment reduced hyperactivity and improved memory performance. The investigators of this study will test whether real-time fMRI neurofeedback will also downregulate hippocampal activity and thereby improve memory performance.

Detailed description

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an insidious and progressive neurodegenerative disorder accompanied by extracellular deposits of beta-amyloid ( aβ) and the increase of cognitive dysfunctions. Several functional magnet resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in the prodromal stage of AD (i.e., in MCI) have found increased hippocampal activity during a memory task to be predictive of memory worsening and disease progression. In this study the investigators are aiming to reduce hippocampal hyperactivity with real-time fMRI neurofeedback and test whether this will improve memory performance. This study will use a randomized, single-blind, parallel group design. Patients with MCI and healthy participants will be assigned to receive feedback from either the hippocampus (experimental group, N=42) or from another brain area (alternate ROI feedback group, N=42). All participants will be instructed to downregulate activity.

Conditions

• Mild Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	real-time fMRI based neurofeedback from the hippocampus	During real-time fMRI neurofeedback, participants are trained to 'control' hippocampal activity. The training is accomplished by continuously measuring brain activity, analysing it in real-time, and then providing feedback about the current (and the targeted) brain activity to the participant.
OTHER	real-time fMRI based neurofeedback from another brain area	During real-time fMRI neurofeedback, participants are trained to 'control' hippocampal activity. The training is accomplished by continuously measuring brain activity, analysing it in real-time, and then providing feedback about the current (and the targeted) brain activity to the participant.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-07-01
• Primary completion: 2023-10-31
• Completion: 2024-01-31
• First posted: 2019-07-16
• Last updated: 2024-05-08

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Switzerland