PROJECT 2: Technology for Assessment and Intervention of Aging
TARGET:
Find an early marker that predicts the evolution of neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's disease and other dementia syndromes.
SPECIFIC:
1. Longitudinally study the neuropsychological changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
2. To study the morphometric and functional changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment supported by fMRI and tractography techniques.
3. Analyze the neurophysiological components in subjects with mild cognitive impairment supported by EEG techniques and ERP.
DESCRIPTION:
Aging has become a challenge for contemporary society. There are many diseases associated with aging, including sensory loss, cognitive impairment and dementia. Its progression and the high prevalence of dementia in our country, have led to the need for better neuropsychological characterization and the search for early diagnostic markers of the various dementia syndromes (DS), mainly Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) which is considered the most common type of DS.
In this sense, older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are considered a population at very high risk of developing a DS. The study of population with MCI is an area of research that requires the development of techniques, methods and diagnostic processes, which trigger early identification of potentially pathological changes causing neurodegenerative processes such as AD and other DS; to this end neuropsychological tools and neurobiological, neurophysiological and neuroimaging techniques are conventionally used in the study of central nervous system (CNS). In our country, in the context of the neurosciences, there have been various investigations that have contributed to the study and characterization of subjects at risk of developing some type of pathology associated with aging including DS. As a continuation of these studies, a present purpose is to determine a diagnosis marker for these entities using the combination of methods providing information about the state of the brain with high spatial resolution as neuroimaging studies and others with high temporal resolution as neurophysiological studies through the EEG and ERP.
PATENT SITUATION:
In preparation
PROJECT STATUS:
It is in the design phase of neuropsychological and physiological instruments for research. The tasks set for 2015 are the following:
1. Development of a pathological aging research software, such as mild cognitive impairment and motor weakness in older adults (NEUROGer).
2. Design an assessment instrument of second level: neuropsychological evaluation to detect mild cognitive impairment in older adults and walking disorders.
3. Evaluation of electrophysiological markers (EEG/ERP) of DCL in older adults.
4. Evaluation of the neuroimaging markers (Morphometric and DTI) DCL in older adults.
5. Produce a fingerprint EEG (EFP) that can be used to predict the marker obtained with neuroimaging. This method allows obtaining a low cost and easy implementation research instrument based on the EEG that preserves the high spatial resolution neuroimaging.
REQUESTED KIND OF COLLABORATION:
• Development of the system at low cost support (tablets, mobile phones, special devices for PC).
• Development of transmission and storage system database.
• Evaluation of the system.
• Include in the Cuban and Chinese public health system.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES AND MILESTONES:
The system will allow the stratified evaluation of pathological aging, allowing a search of wide coverage and low cost, which will facilitate appropriate intervention of the problems related to pathological aging.
Milestones:
1. Completion of research instruments of 1st and 2nd level. Data collection for the definition of biomarkers.
2. Test the system of research of 1st and 2nd level. Sensitivity and specificity.
3. Data Analysis for the definition of biomarkers. Define the EEG –fingerprint.
4. Test the biomarker EEG fingerprint. Sensitivity and specificity.
SPONSORING INSTITUTION:
Neurosciences Center of Cuba. Calle 190 e/ 25 y 27, CUBANACAN, Playa. La Habana. CP 11600, Phone: (+53) 7263-7100. http://www.cneuro.edu.cu/
Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Sciences and Technology of China UESTC. Sichuan, Chengdu 610054, China. http://www.neuro.uestc.edu.cn/
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:
Dr. Maria A. Bobes, PhD.
Senior Professor,
Head of Cognitive Neuroscience Department
Contact details:
Phone: (53)-7-2637196
Email: antonieta@cneuro.edu.cu
Yongxiu Lai Ph.D.,
Associate Professor
Neuroimaging Center NIL UESTC
Mobile: 86-13678176026
Email: laiyx@uestc.edu.cn
LUO, CHENG, Ph.D.
Associate professor.
Neuroimaging Center NIL UESTC
Mobile Phone Number: 86 18781934456
Email address: Chengluo@uestc.edu.cn
