Short-term memory binding: towards a novel biomarker of memory for Alzheimer's disease
Short-term memory binding supports the temporary retention of combinations of features such as shapes and colours (like a red circle, or a yellow car). This function has been found to be preserved in healthy ageing but dramatically affected by sporadic and familial Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, short-term memory is unaffected by other types of dementia or by chronic depression. Recently, the presence of short-term memory binding deficits has been confirmed in elderly people with subjective or objective memory complaints. They are at a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This project will investigate whether short-term memory binding deficits in people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease predict the development of the disease. The brain network supporting this memory function and its vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease will be investigated using inexpensive electroencephalographic techniques. By combining a simple memory test with the electrophysiological recording of the associated brain activity, a novel biomarker of memory for Alzheimer’s disease will be delivered. Such a biomarker could be made available outwith hospital settings and would be made accessible to the population worldwide, including high, middle and low income countries.
Short-term memory binding: towards a novel biomarker of memory for Alzheimer's disease
Electrophysiological biomarker of memory for Alzheimer's disease
The first award was granted to Dr. Mario Parra a Research Fellow from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Dr. Parra will use Neuronetrix’s COGNISION™ System to investigate memory deficits in Alzheimer’s patients. His previous work has demonstrated that brain networks involved in short-term memory binding (STMB) are sensitive to clinical dementia but are unaffected by normal aging, chronic depression, or cultural backgrounds. Dr. Parra will use COGNISION™ in his BioM-AD study, a 3-year, multi-center trial that will recruit 270 participants at Alzheimer’s clinics in Scotland, Spain, Columbia, Argentina, and Brazil. Dr. Parra noted that the COGNISION™ System offers unique capabilities that will benefit the study; “Its flexibility in integrating cognitive paradigms, together with its robustness to perform ambulatory assessments while still keeping excellent signal-to-noise ratios, and its on-line and off-line support offer a unique platform on which BioM-AD will rest.”
Electrophysiological biomarker of memory for Alzheimer's disease
Evaluation of in-home monitoring using the BrainWaveBank platform for people with Mild Cognitive Impairment. The proposed neuroscience platform utilises relatively inexpensive portable technology, EEG (electroencephalography). Historically used as a research and diagnostic tool in clinics and research labs, due to advances in technology (mobile communication, dry sensor designs and miniaturization), the EEG technology and platform represents a mobile tool suitable for in-home deployment. In combination with selected neurocognitive testing in the form of tablet-based games paired with a fitness tracker to monitor lifestyle factors, the platform is intended to remotely monitor cognitive health, on a daily basis, in the home setting.
Eye-tracking technologies as potential biomarkers for dementia
ViewMind’s Digital Biomarker software, based on AI, aims to identify minor alterations in oculomotor patterns and correlate them to specific pathologies, cognitive functions and related areas of the brain. ViewMind is support the Applied Cognition Lab towards the development of affordable biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease.