CTCN Studies

LifeLogging Study

The study examines if taking photos of daily life and studying memories from daily life can lead to improvements in overall memory. 

Participant involvement will include an in person visit to do some pencil and paper tests, including a memory test, and setting up the technology required for the study on a smartphone or ipad or tablet. After the initial visit, participants will take 4 pictures a day for 15 days and fill out a questionnaire about details of each photo. After the 15 days, participants will begin a two-week period of studying those images and details. After the study period is over, participants will come in person for a visit to complete EEG testing and an interview about the memories associated with the images taken. 

We are currently seeking healthy older adults, older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and older adults who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that might be interested in participating in a pilot of this intervention. Please reach out to ctcnbrainlab@gmail.com if you are interested in getting involved! 

PET Database (Retrospective Analysis)

By analyzing patient data from the Memory Disorders Clinic, this study focuses on understanding risk factors for cognitive decline and evaluating the utility of neuroimaging, clinical data, and neuropsychological testing to predict early indicators of Alzheimer’s pathology, with a particular emphasis on amyloid positron emission tomography (aPET) and disease modifying therapies in Alzheimer’s disease (DMTADs). 

Etiology of Hallucinations

The Hallucinations study is investigating why patients with Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Charles Bonnet syndrome are susceptible to developing hallucinations at different rates. Participants complete neuropsychological testing, an EEG study, a motor exam, and several measures of memory and attention with visual and auditory stimuli. Our research will help determine the pathophysiology of hallucination development in dementia and design specific treatments to reduce hallucinations and their impact on the lives of patients with dementia and their families. This study is actively recruiting participants and collecting data.

Predicting Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease with EEG Microstates

Electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates are the brief, semi-stable patterns of brain electrical activity that reflect the moment-to-moment coordinated activity of our brain networks. Recent evidence suggests that these EEG microstates could be used to detect Alzheimer’s disease, as brain networks progressively lose their ability to coordinate and communicate with each other as the disease progresses. Therefore, our research aims to measure and study EEG microstates in individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease over the course of a year to determine whether these microstates can be used to predict disease progression and diagnose Alzheimer’s disease earlier than conventional methods.

We are currently seeking healthy older adults and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease that might be interested in participating in a pilot of this study. Please reach out to ctcnbrainlab@gmail.com if you are interested in getting involved! 

Perceptual Characteristics of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Study

Perception refers to the ability to become aware of and understand internal and/or external information, often through the senses. Tens of millions of people worldwide live with forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, but little is known about how perception varies in these populations compared to healthy individuals. Perceptual changes are likely to remain hidden, unlike changes in behavior and cognition, yet they may underlie various behavioral and cognitive problems. Therefore, we are using a unique task battery called the “Perception Census”, which allows comparisons across many different aspects of perception to collect data from Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia patients and from healthy older adults to compare selected aspects of perception between these individuals. Understanding perceptual diversity in dementia has the potential to reveal new factors underlying the challenges accompanying dementia, provide early diagnostic indicators, and uncover new pathways for therapy.

We are currently seeking healthy older adults and older adults with Alzheimer’s disease that might be interested in participating in this study. Participants must be part of the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (BU ADRC) to participate.

The Health Outreach Program for the Elderly (HOPE) Study

The HOPE study is a longitudinal research investigation of approximately 400 participants over age 50 who span the cognitive spectrum (normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia). Each year, participants are interviewed, answer questionnaires, undergo neuropsychological testing and physical exam, and have blood drawn. Additional assessments, including brain imaging, lumbar puncture, and engagement with smart technology, occur intermittently. Participants are followed for their entire lives and donate their brains to research after death. A major focus of the BU ADRC and VA CTCN team is investigating how repetitive head impacts from contact sports, military service, and intimate partner violence leads to late life effects, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Approximately 1/3 of the participants have had these types of exposures. Some participants have been involved in the HOPE study for almost 20 years. However, new participants are enrolled on an ongoing basis.

This study is currently seeking individuals who are 50 years or older, or are 55 years or older with memory concerns, and have a caregiver or study partner who can accompany you to your annual study visit. If you are interested, please visit the BU ADRC website: https://www.bu.edu/alzresearch/hope-study/ or reach out via email to our VA CTCN team at: ctcnbrainlab@gmail.com!

PAST STUDIES

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease Using Event-Related Potentials

This is a research study that will evaluate a new approach (Event-Related Potentials [ERPs]) to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and Traumatic Brain Injury in patients who have memory difficulties. ERPs are essentially brain activity measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset in response to a specific task. Our aim is to test a new and simpler way to diagnose and evaluate people with memory disorders. Participation in this study will last for about two hours in a single (one-day) session.

Participants with healthy cognition and those with cognitive impairment will be enrolled in this research.

Mechanisms of Mindfulness for Cognition

This study looks at how mindfulness can impact memory, cognition, mood, and self-awareness in Veterans with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

For this study, participants are invited to enroll in MAVEN (Mindfulness Approach for Veterans’ Emotional and Neurological wellness): a 10-week program adapted from MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction) with 1.5-hour virtual sessions, simplified practices, and 20-30 minute home practice sessions tailored for Veterans with MCI and PTSD. The class is structured in a group format, meeting on Microsoft Teams once a week. Prior to the class start date, participants complete baseline testing which consists of pencil and paper testing, questionnaires surrounding self-awareness, sleep, and mood, along with an EEG session to record brain activity while completing a variety of tasks on a computer. Optionally, we may ask for a research-grade MRI to examine brain structures. After the conclusion of the class, participants are asked to come back for testing once again.

The CTCN has successfully run four of these classes from January 2025 to July 2026. As of September 2026, we are currently not actively recruiting participants for a new class, but are hoping to start another round of classes in the near future. Stay tuned!