Tau Networks in Psychotic Alzheimer's Disease
This research project aims to understand the brain mechanisms behind the manifestation of psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer´s disease (AD), and nature of the unique relationship with tau pathology. Amongst the cognitive manifestations of psychosis are impairments related to frontal circuits (social cognition, working memory and executive function deficits). The investigator's previous work suggests a role of tau pathology (one of the hallmarks of AD neuropathology) in the manifestation of psychosis in AD. However, the cerebral mechanisms that underly this association remain poorly understood. The overarching aim of the study is is to investigate the mechanisms by which tau network pathology may promote the presentation of psychosis in AD.
• Age 65-85 years old.
• Diagnosis of probable AD dementia according to National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) criteria.
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 10 and ≤ 26 at the screening visit.
• Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score ≥ 0.5.
• Logical Memory delay score of ≤8 for 16+ years of education, ≤4 for 8-15 years of education, and ≤2 for 0-7 years of education
• All the criteria for AD are met.
• Presence of one (or more) of the following symptoms:
‣ Visual or auditory hallucinations (e.g., seeing silent individuals standing in the room, seeing children in the yard, or seeing animals in the house).
⁃ Delusions (fixed false beliefs that the patient believes to be true, e.g., that the spouse is unfaithful, that possessions are being stolen, or that one is not who one claims to be).
• Age 65-85 years old.
• No known genetic risk factors for dementia.
• No cognitive complaint
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 26 at the screening visit.
• Logical Memory delay score of ≥9 for 16+ years of education, ≥5 for 8-15 years of education, and ≥3 for 0-7 years of education