Actively Recruiting

Age: 60Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
NCT06678100

Swallowing Impairments in Adults With and Without Alzheimer's Disease

Led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Updated on 2026-05-08

240

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

145 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

This research study is investigating whether people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience more changes to swallowing than their healthy age-matched peers. The prevalence of swallowing impairments in moderate-severe AD is high (85-93%), yet little is known about how swallow function evolves throughout the disease course in people with AD. The overall objective of this study is to evaluate swallowing function in adults with and without Alzheimer's disease. The investigator will also be involving the primary caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's that are enrolled in the study to better understand the impact of swallowing impairments on the primary caregivers of those with Alzheimer's Disease. Healthy adults and individuals with Alzheimer's disease will: * undergo tests of cough and swallow function * undergo tests of grip and tongue strength * complete questionnaires Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease will also complete questionnaires.

CONDITIONS

Official Title

Swallowing Impairments in Adults With and Without Alzheimer's Disease

Who Can Participate

Age: 60Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

Inclusion criteria for AD cohort:

  1. adult ≥60 years old
  2. diagnosis of AD by a neurologist (confirmed with imaging, spinal tap, behavioral testing)
  3. no prior history of other neurological diseases (aside from stroke which has resolved with no current symptoms)
  4. no prior history of respiratory diseases
  5. no prior history of head and neck surgery/head and neck cancer/radiation to head and neck region
  6. consuming some form of oral intake
  7. able to follow basic directions
  8. able/willing to provide consent/assent.

Exclusion Criteria for AD Cohort:

  1. individual <60 years old
  2. Diagnosis of another type of dementia
  3. History of neurological/respiratory diseases
  4. History of head and neck surgery/head and neck cancer/radiation to head and neck region
  5. not consuming any oral intake
  6. Unable to follow basic directions
  7. Unable to provide consent based on the University of California, San Diego Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent (UBACC), score <15 OR provide assent and a legal guardian/health care decision maker provides consent.

Inclusion criteria for care partners of individuals with AD will be:

  1. care partner of an individual with AD
  2. willing to complete questionnaires/participate in an interview.

Exclusion Criteria for Caregivers of Individuals with AD:

  1. not the primary caregiver of an individual with AD
  2. unwilling to complete questionnaires/semi-structured interview

Inclusion criteria for community-dwelling adults will be:

  1. adult ≥60 years old
  2. no prior history of neurological diseases (aside from stroke which has resolved with no current symptoms)
  3. no prior history of respiratory diseases

3) no prior history of head and neck surgery/head and neck cancer/radiation to head and neck region 4) no prior history of swallowing difficulties based on participant report. 5) Score ≥25th percentile based on sex/age/education/race on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA)

Exclusion Criteria for Healthy Cohort:

  1. individual <60 years old
  2. history of neurological disease
  3. history of respiratory disease
  4. history of head and neck surgery/head and neck cancer/radiation to head and neck region
  5. history of swallowing difficulties
  6. Score <25th percentile based on sex/age/education/race on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA)
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

History of severe allergic reactions to study medication Currently pregnant or breastfeeding Recent participation in another clinical trial within the last 30 days Presence of uncontrolled medical conditions that could affect safety

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

1
2
3
+1

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232

Actively Recruiting

Loading map...

Research Team

C

Cara Donohue, PhD CCC-SLP

CONTACT

How is the study designed?

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Masking

N/A

Allocation

N/A

Model

N/A

Primary Purpose

N/A

Number of Arms

2

Not the Right Trial for You?

Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Already have an account? Log in here