Attentional Mechanisms of Cognitive Compensation in Subjective Cognitive Decline
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Summary
This study will use an anticholinergic pharmacological probe to examine attention network function in SCD using EEG. The overall hypothesis is that in older adults with SCD, normal cognitive performance is maintained by compensatory attention network activity, supported by enhanced cholinergic function. The investigators anticipate that SCD will be associated with greater compensatory attention network activity and that disrupting this compensatory process through anticholinergic challenge will result in a greater negative effect on attentional performance (Attention Network Test, ANT) and attention network functioning (EEG) in older adults with greater subjective cognitive concern.
Description
Overview: Cognitively normal older adults with and without subjective cognitive decline (SCD) (n = 80) will complete two study visits that will be double blinded and randomized for anticholinergic challenge (mecamylamine or placebo). Drug challenge visits will include cognitive testing and an electroencephalography (EEG) session. AIM 1: Test for anticholinergic effects on attentional network function by cognitive concern severity. Under anticholinergic challenge, compared to placebo, greater subjective cognitive concerns will be associated with…: Hyp. 1a: greater reduction in orienting atten…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 55+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. age ≥ 55 2. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) \> 25 AND Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) rating \< 3 3. Non-smokers Exclusion Criteria: 1. medical contraindications to the drug challenge 2. primary neurological disorder (such as stroke, epilepsy, etc.)
Interventions
- DrugMecamylamine Challenge
Mecamylamine 20 mg oral pill administered once
- OtherPlacebo Comparator Challenge
Matching placebo oral pill administered once
Location
- Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Tennessee