Principal Investigators

    Bohbot, Véronique

    Institution

    Douglas Hospital Research Centre (Verdun, Québec)

    Contact information of lead PI

    Country

    Canada

    Title of project or programme

    Virtual Reality based Spatial Memory Intervention for patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

    Source of funding information

    CIHR

    Total sum awarded (Euro)

    € 512,786

    Start date of award

    01/10/2012

    Total duration of award in years

    4.0

    The project/programme is most relevant to:

    Alzheimer's disease & other dementias

    Keywords

    Research Abstract

    Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD causes degeneration in the hippocampus (HPC) and this has been linked to memory loss. We propose to test patients with MCI and healthy controls on a computer training program specifically aimed at stimulating the hippocampus, in order to help alleviate the memory loss caused by AD. We previously developed a virtual task to test the ability to find objects in the environment. The caudate nucleus (CN) and hippocampus are brain regions involved in this ability. We found that the participants who used environmental landmarks (such as trees and buildings) a strategy we call “spatial learning”, involved activity in the hippocampus. The other participants used a strategy called “response learning” which relies on the CN. This strategy involves learning a route by performing a sequence of movements repeatedly (turn right at the end of the road). We found that people using spatial learning have more grey matter in the HPC than people using response learning. Since the HPC is affected by AD, we developed a spatial memory training program for MCI patients in order to try and stimulate this region. Participants will undergo a 2 month program of two 60-minute sessions per week totaling 16 hours of spatial memory training over 8 weeks. We will test 143 MCI patients and healthy elderly over four years. Only half of them will go through the training program. The other half will act as controls and will be engaged in other stimulating activities that do not involve spatial memory in order to discriminate changes due to the spatial memory intervention program from non-specific changes associated with training at our research laboratory. If successful, this program will lead to better navigational skills, greater functional autonomy and better quality of life in patients and healthy participants.

    Lay Summary

    Further information available at:

Types: Investments > €500k
Member States: Canada
Diseases: Alzheimer's disease & other dementias
Years: 2016
Database Categories: N/A
Database Tags: N/A

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