fMRI of Autonomic Physiology in FTD and AD

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to examine how brain activity relates to unconscious autonomic responses in healthy subjects and patients with FTD, AD and other closely related neurodegenerative diseases.

Study Details

Inclusion Criteria: Subjects must be enrolled in either the Frontotemporal Dementia: Genes, Images and Emotions study or New Approaches to Dementia Heterogeneity study. Subjects must meet criteria for one of the neurodegenerative diseases studied (frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other closely related neurological disorders including corticobasal degeneration (CBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with dementia), unless participating as a healthy control. Subjects must also have a Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score above 15.

Exclusion Criteria: A past or current history of alcohol abuse, substance abuse, head trauma (with a loss of consciousness greater than 15 minutes), intraparenchymal brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, parkinsonism, hydrocephalus, intracerebral hemorrhage, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Any cortical or more than four lacunar strokes, intraparenchymal structural lesion or prominent periventricular white matter disease. Current history of a pacemaker, ferromagnetic matter in the body, respiratory failure (oxygen-dependent), unipolar depression, anxiety disorder and claustrophobia also exclude subjects from participating.

What to Expect

Testing: fMRI and physiological measurements take approximately 45–60 minutes.

The Frequency of Visits: One visit

Materials Needed Before Evaluation: None

Costs: No costs will be charged for any of the study procedures. Parking will be validated for the 1625 Owens Street Garage or 1630 Third Street Garage at the UCSF Mission Bay campus for all study visits. There is no monetary compensation for participation.

Contact Information

If you are interested in participating in this study or have any questions, please contact the study coordinator, Jersey Deng, at [email protected] or 415.502.7187.