Understanding Vision and Movement Changes in Neurodegenerative Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Visuospatial Perception and Motor Control in Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) and related Neurodegenerative Diseases.
IRAS ID
171104
Contact name
Harriet Ingle
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 17 days
Research summary
The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified dementia as a public health issue and a priority area for research in 2012. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and usually presents in later life as problems with memory as well as impairments in other areas such as language, the ability to plan and problem-solve, and decreased or poor judgement.
AD is a very heterogeneous disease, with various subtypes already identified showing differences in age of onset and rate of decline, among others. Classifying the different mechanisms of disease presentation and progression of these AD subtypes will allow for targeted rehabilitation as well as the development of sensitive and specific screening tools to aid in quicker diagnosis. Interventions for AD are most effective at the early stages of the disease, therefore rapid diagnosis is essential.
This study aims to investigate the visual, language, and movement symptoms associated with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD), and other related AD subtypes. Very few studies exist which have looked at characterising these symptoms in detail - so little is known about how these symptoms begin, and the progression which they may take.
The primary aim of this research is to understand and characterise the visual deficits in participants with PCA, and to investigate whether this is distinct from the profile observed in participants with related diagnoses. The secondary aim of the study is to develop a sensitive diagnostic tool for PCA, to be used by clinicians, in order to and aid in a more rapid diagnosis. Participants will be tested using a range of tests - utilising technologies such as touch screen computers and eye tracking glasses, and will be recruited from the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic. The study is a mixed design. The research is funded by the University of Edinburgh.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
15/SS/0068
Date of REC Opinion
4 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion