Developing neurocognitive biomarkers for recovery from AD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using the Brain Gauge to develop cognitive and neurocognitive biomarkers for recovery from alcohol dependence (AD). **Research will be advertised as "Memory performance during alcohol detoxification" to alcohol-dependent participants, and as "The relationship between cognitive function and alcohol use" to non alcohol-dependent participants, to avoid confusion with technical terms**
IRAS ID
274928
Contact name
Catharine Montgomery
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool John Moores University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The UK drugs strategy (2017) supports recovery from substance-related problems through tailored interventions, and suggests individual-level factors should be considered alongside structural determinants. The integrity of cognitive processes can predict how well an individual will recover from substance use. This study will test the feasibility and diagnostic utility of a novel brain measurement device, to evaluate validated cognitive tasks as indicators of recovery in alcohol dependent individuals. Participants commencing an alcohol detoxification programme will complete computer-based measures of cognition, and have their cortical-metrics measured using the Brain Gauge, a computer peripheral assessing cortical response to vibrotactile stimulation. We will assess differences between recovering alcohol dependents at varying detoxification time-points, to establish if cortical activity and cognitive processes correlate with other aspects of recovery. This will allow the development of biomarkers of recovery, and help treatment workers and people receiving support understand some individual level predictors of treatment outcome. We will also assess age-matched non-alcohol-dependent control participants using the same measures, at one time-point, for comparison with the results of the alcohol-dependent participants.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0225
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion