CURRENT STUDIES

Thinking and Memory in Alzheimer’s Disease Study

This is a research study that will look at responses to certain types of thinking and memory tests. There are early results that suggest patients with cognitive impairment perform differently on specific assessments.

The goal is to better understand how cognitive impairment affects perception, thinking, and memory. In the end, this work may lead to the creation of better tests for the diagnosis and evaluation of different types of brain problems, as well as potential treatments. This study consists of two sessions (spaced one week apart). Some tasks in this study will ask an informant (friend or family member) about your quality of life, how you can complete daily living activities, and their impressions about your memory.

We are currently looking for participants for this study! Participants with healthy cognition and those with cognitive impairment will be enrolled in this research.

Please email erwaskow@bu.edu for more information.

Traumatic Brain Injury Study

This study looks at how thinking and memory change with aging and due to head injuries and aging. Specifically, we are interested in looking at how people’s responses to surveys, questionnaires, and computer games change with age and due to head injuries.

For this study, you would complete a couple of short paper and pencil tasks as well as a computer memory task. Later, you would complete an EEG session, which would allow us to measure your brain activity while you play games on a tablet. For some participants, we’d like to see how the structure of your brain has changed, so we would ask you to get a research-grade MRI brain to look at your brain structure. Optionally, we would ask you to get your blood drawn, which we would use to look for genetic markers of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as a lumbar puncture, to look for genetic markers of Alzheimer’s disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which can occur after head injury.

We are currently looking for participants for this study (Veterans only)! Veterans with and without Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) will be enrolled in this research.

Please email kmorreal@bu.edu for more information.

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.

We are currently looking for participants for this study!  Participants with healthy cognition and those with cognitive impairment will be enrolled in this research.

Please email mynac@bu.edu for more information.

Translational Spaces Study

This is a research study that will look at your responses to certain types of thinking and memory tests, and some questionnaires regarding your social environment and mood. There are early results that individuals perform differently on these tests depending on their level of social interactions and mood.

By conducting this research project, we hope to better understand how social interaction can help improve performances of thinking and memory and improve mood in older individuals with a brain problem affecting their memory and thinking. In the end, this work may lead to creating new methods to potentially help individuals with problems in thinking and memory to improve their memory, social support, and mood.

We are currently looking for participants for this study! Participants with healthy cognition and those with cognitive impairment will be enrolled in this research.

Please email mynac@bu.edu for more information.