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

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管多年的研究，阿尔茨海默病的原因仍然基本上是未知的。地形记忆障碍可以说是阿尔茨海默氏病中观察到的最早的认知缺陷，并且涉及地形记忆的大脑区域是第一个显示退行性变化的区域。先前的研究表明，人类的地形记忆障碍与双侧前庭丧失之间存在联系。然而，迄今为止还没有人试图将具有阿尔茨海默病风险的正常老年人群个体成员的地形记忆丧失与前庭系统损伤相关联。这个第一阶段项目将开发地形记忆障碍及其可能的前因的生物行为标记。这些地形和可能的前庭生物行为标志物将被整合到一个基于网络的界面和决策支持系统中，该系统将为那些有地形记忆障碍和可能的阿尔茨海默病风险的人提供早期预警指标。最终，该系统不仅可以用于识别那些有阿尔茨海默病风险的人，而且还可以用于识别那些可能适合前庭修复的人。生物行为标记物的发展有可能对公共卫生产生深远的影响，并取得重大的商业成功。本I期研究有两个具体目标：具体目标1。创建软件来评估地形记忆和/或前庭损害具体目标2.地形记忆与前庭功能相关性的临床研究 公共卫生相关性：2012年估计有540万美国人患有阿尔茨海默病。据估计，与阿尔茨海默病相关的护理费用每年为2000亿美元。尽管经过多年的研究，阿尔茨海默病的病因在很大程度上仍然未知。生物行为标记物的开发可以指示阿尔茨海默病的早期发作，并可能为疾病预防或治疗提供目标，这将对公共卫生产生重大影响。

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.