Vestibular-Topographical Memory Markers for Those At Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

描述(申请人提供)：尽管进行了多年的研究，但阿尔茨海默氏症的病因基本上仍不清楚。可以说，地形性记忆障碍是阿尔茨海默病中观察到的最早的认知缺陷，而涉及地形性记忆的大脑区域最先显示出退行性变化。先前的研究已经表明，人类的地形记忆障碍与双侧前庭丧失之间存在联系。然而，到目前为止，还没有人试图在有阿尔茨海默病风险的正常老年人群中将地形性记忆丧失与前庭系统损害联系起来。这个第一阶段的项目将为地形记忆障碍及其可能的前驱因素开发生物行为标记物。这些地形图和可能的前庭生物行为标记将被集成到一个基于网络的界面和决策支持系统中，该系统将为那些面临地形图记忆衰竭和可能的阿尔茨海默病风险的人提供早期预警指标。最终，这个系统不仅可以用来识别那些有阿尔茨海默病风险的人，也可以用来识别那些可能接受前庭补救的人。生物行为标记物的开发有可能对公众健康产生深远影响，并取得重大商业成功。这项第一阶段研究有两个特定目标：特定目标1.开发评估地形记忆和/或前庭损伤的软件特定目标2.在人类临床试验中评估地形记忆与前庭功能的相关性 与公共健康相关：2012年，估计有540万美国人患有阿尔茨海默氏症。据估计，每年与阿尔茨海默病相关的护理费用为2000亿美元。尽管进行了多年的研究，但阿尔茨海默氏症的病因在很大程度上仍不清楚。生物行为标记物的发展可能预示阿尔茨海默病的早期发病，并可能为疾病预防或治疗提供目标，这将对公共健康产生重大影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite years of research, the cause of Alzheimer's disease remains essentially unknown. Topographic memory impairments are arguably the earliest cognitive deficits observed in Alzheimer's disease, and the brain areas involved in topographic memory are the first to show degenerative changes. Previous research has shown a link between impairment of topographic memory in humans with bilateral vestibular loss. However, no one has heretofore attempted to correlate topographic memory loss with impairment of the vestibular system in individual members of a normal elderly population at risk for Alzheimer's disease. This Phase I project will develop biobehavioral markers for topographic memory impairments and their possible antecedents. These topographic and possible vestibular biobehavioral markers will be integrated into a web-based interface and decision-support system that will provide an early warning indicator for those at risk of topographic memory failure and possibly Alzheimer's disease. Ultimately, this system may be used not only to identify those at risks for Alzheimer's disease, but also those who may be amenable to vestibular remediation. The development of the biobehavioral markers has the potential to have a profound impact on public health and achieve significant commercial success. This Phase I study has two Specific Aims: Specific Aim 1. Create Software to Evaluate Topographic Memory and/or Vestibular Impairment Specific Aim 2. Evaluate the Correlation between Topographic Memory and Vestibular Function in a Human Clinical Trial PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease in 2012. Payments for care associated with Alzheimer's disease are estimated to be $200 billion annually. Despite years of research, the cause of Alzheimer's disease remains largely unknown. The development of biobehavioral markers that could indicate early onset of Alzheimer's disease and perhaps provide targets for disease prevention or treatment would have a significant impact on public health.