Testing Intermittent Deep Brain Stimulation of the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert to Treat Alzheimers Dementia in Older Adults

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating a new procedure called intermittent Deep Brain Stimulation DBS of the nucleus basalis of Meynert to treat Alzheimers disease. This study aims to see if DBS can sustain or improve cognitive abilities in people with early-stage Alzheimers over at least two years. The trial will include a total of up to twelve participants, with half receiving DBS and the other half receiving standard care without DBS for comparison. Participants in the DBS group will receive stimulation for 50 minutes daily. Both groups will undergo assessments at the start, after four weeks DBS group only, and then every six months for two years. The control group will have matching eligibility but will not receive the DBS intervention. This non-randomized, open-label trial will be conducted by Augusta University. Throughout the study, participants will have evaluations using dementia rating scales and cognitive assessments at two years. Additional measures include PET scans for beta amyloid, anxiety scales, and questionnaires related to depression and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Participants must live at home with caregiver support and will be monitored regularly to assess cognition and overall safety during the study period, which lasts up to two years.

A Trial to Test Intermittent Deep Brain Stimulation of Nucleus Basalis of Meynert to Treat Alzheimers.