Assessing subjective awareness in severe dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating subjective awareness in people with severe Alzheimer’s disease.
IRAS ID
235478
Contact name
Jonathan Huntley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Univeristy College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2017/10/88, UCL Data Protection Registration number
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This research seeks to improve our understanding of how people with severe dementia experience the world, in order to improve their quality of life. In patients with reduced awareness of themselves and their environment due to brain injuries or anaesthetics, techniques have been successfully developed that measure brain activity associated with levels of awareness. We plan to use these methods of measuring brain activity to assess awareness in people with severe dementia whilst they are resting, listening to pleasurable music, watching a short film or looking at objects.
The main approach involves electroencephalography (EEG). EEG is a non-invasive way to measure brain activity. It involves placing a cap containing a number of sensors on the participants head. The sensors are then able to measure very small levels of electrical activity within the brain whilst the person looks at pictures. We will also use a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is non-invasive, safe and does not require active patient participation. It uses a magnet to produce a small electrical signal and the sensors then measure the resulting electrical activity in the person’s brain. This measurements can then be used to provide a marker of awareness.
We will also use structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is a non-invasive, painless and safe technique that allows images to be taken of brain structure, and measurement of blood flow whilst participants are resting and when they are listening to familiar music or watching a short film.
Using these approaches we will conduct a pilot study with 5 individuals with severe dementia and 10 healthy control participants.
This study aims to improve our understanding of subjective awareness in people with severe dementia and investigate simple ways to potentially improve awareness and quality of life.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
18/WA/0012
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion