Projects

There appears to be great variability in the response to treatment among participants and the reason for this variability remains unclear. Given that interventions are resource intensive, the characterization and selection of those participants who might benefit from treatment would greatly improve the practicability and effectiveness of those interventions. In this project, we seek to find variables that enable a prediction of treatment response. Possible prognostic variables might be the volume of certain brain areas, markers of plasticity, or physiological variables. 

Selected publications:
Peter J, Schumacher LV, Landerer V, Abdulkadir A, Kaller CP, Lahr J, Klöppel S.
Biological factors contributing to the response to cognitive training in mild cognitive impairment.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;61(1):333-345. doi: 10.3233/JAD-170580.

Healthy aging is often accompanied by decline in cognitive functioning. Pathological brain changes that occur in neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., dementia) massively steepen this cognitive decline and lead to problems with activities of daily living.
In an ongoing study we will investigate whether a tablet-based cognitive training can improve cognitive performance in patients with dementia as well as in participants at increased risk of dementia. We will test the efficacy of an in-house developed tablet-based cognitive training that can be used at home. There will also be weekly on site sessions in small groups.

For further information please see:

http://www.memory-clinic-bern.ch/gedachtnistraining/

In this research project, we aim to investigate if non-invasive brain stimulation techniques are able to modulate (or improve) cognitive interventions. We stimulate certain brain areas of individuals while they receive a cognitive intervention (e.g., a computerized cognitive training).

Selected publications:
Vemuri P, Fields J, Peter J, Klöppel S.
Cognitive interventions in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: emerging mechanisms and role of imaging.
Curr Opin Neurol. 2016 Aug;29(4):405-11. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000346.

In collaboration with group Züst:

Better quality of slow wave sleep (SWS) is connected to better post-sleep memory performance both in young and older adults. Disrupted SWS in cognitively healthy older adults has recently been suggested as an early biomarker of imminent cognitive decline. In a current project, we utilize closed-loop acoustic stimulation across multiple nights to enhance SWS in healthy older adults and in those at risk for dementia. We expect memory function to increase with the duration of the intervention. Individuals with relatively diminished SWS at baseline and/or individuals with increased risk for dementia should benefit the most. The long-term goal of this project is to test the suitability of closed loop acoustic stimulation to sustainably stabilize SWS in older adults to slow the progression towards dementia. Acoustic stimulation during SWS could therefore prove itself as a non-invasive and inexpensive tool to combat cognitive decline.