Evaluation of Apathy Using Attentional Reaction Test in Neurodegenerative Diseases

December 8, 2011 updated by: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice

Apathy, defined as a lack of motivation in behaviour, cognition and affect, is common in neurodegenerative diseases. Specific scales are available for the evaluation of apathy but it lacks objective evaluation methods.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in reaction time task according to the presence or absence of reward stimulation and to assess the relation between these performances and apathy scales.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

MATERIAL: 13 patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), 15 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 91 elderly healthy subjects were enrolled. A computerized test using the experiment software E-prime® was designed to assess reaction times (in ms) in different experimental conditions after a training trial (neutral, stimulation, stress, stimulation after stress, extinction) and relation between the performances to the test and the Apathy Inventory (AI) scores (lack of initiative, lack of interest, emotional blunting) were observed.

METHOD: Using a computerized test, each patient is asked to press a button (mouse of the computer) each time the screen of the computer becomes completely white. After pressing the button, a randomized colorized geometric figure appears on the screen, and disappears automatically after a few seconds, replaced by a new white screen. Reaction time (in ms) between a white screen and a press of the button is analysed. After a training trial, reaction times are analysed in different experimental conditions: neutral - stimulation1 (patient gets points when pressing the button) - stress (alarm) - stimulation2 (patient gets points when pressing, after the stress trial) - extinction (similar to neutral condition).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

70

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • France
      • Nice, France, 06000
        • CM2R, Nice University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years to 75 years (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Elderly patients with diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease according to DSM-IV criteria
  • MMSE >20

Exclusion Criteria:

  • None
  • Motor or psychiatric disorders

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1
Using a computerized test, each patient is asked to press a button (mouse of the computer) each time the screen of the computer becomes completely white.
Behavioral: computerized test
Using a computerized test, each patient is asked to press a button (mouse of the computer) each time the screen of the computer becomes completely white.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Reaction times (ms), using a computerized test
Time Frame: one time point, at day 0 (day of inclusion) during the computerized test
one time point, at day 0 (day of inclusion) during the computerized test

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Apathy severity, using a specific apathy scale (Apathy Inventory)
Time Frame: one time point, at day 0 (day of inclusion), during the visit
one time point, at day 0 (day of inclusion), during the visit

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 28, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 30, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

February 2, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

December 9, 2011

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 8, 2011

Last Verified

December 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 06-CIR-01

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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