Chinese language assessment in Primary Progressive Aphasia

Last updated: April 20, 2023
Sponsor: Alzheimer's Association, Inc., NIH Natl Institute on Aging
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Frontotemporal Dementia

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

TX312788
21-34020
  • Ages 40-100
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

This is a cross-sectional study that involves human participants mainly collecting demographic and cognitive data, and brain MRI imaging. The overarching goal of this project is to improve the clinical diagnosis and classification of Chinese-speaking PPA and/or FTD patients. This project consists of two specific aims. The first aim focuses on validating the neuroanatomical specificity of the individual tests in the CLAP battery. Through this effort, we will acquire in-depth anatomical knowledge of various neurolinguistics components in the Chinese speaking population. The second aim is designed to investigate the clinical and linguistics features of imaging- based phenotypes in our Chinese cohort. We hope to identify significant key features that facilitate the diagnosis and classification of the Chinese- speaking population.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Cantonese or Mandarin exposure before the age of 7
  • Received all formal education in Chinese OR received more than 6 years of formal Chinese education
  • MMSE score of 18 and above
  • CDR score of lower than 1

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with coexisting neurodegenerative diseases, history of brain surgery, major brain trauma (ICU hospitalized), stroke, brain tumor and other neurological disease that impacts cognitive functions.
  • Individuals with oropharyngeal disorders affecting articulations.
  • Severe hearing impairments (>70 dB)
  • Visual impairments that hinder participants to visualize study materials
  • Contradicted for MRI imaging including pregnancy, intraocular or intracranial metal implants, cardiac pacemaker, claustrophobia and individuals unable to tolerate MRI study without medications.

Study Design

Total Participants: 120
Study Start date:
Estimated Completion Date:
March 31, 2024

Study Description

This research examines the neural basis of speech and language symptoms in Chinese-speaking PPA and FTD patients. It also promotes linguistic diversity in the field of neurodegenerative disease research. A battery of neuroanatomically-based and linguistically adapted Chinese language assessment for PPA (CLAP) has been developed for Chinese-speaking patients. In this internationally collaborative research project, we will extend our work to include brain MR imaging and language assessments for a cohort of 120 Chinese- speaking participants. By comparing this well-characterized cohort with the existing English-speaking cohort at UCSF, this research will provide invaluable insights on the neural basis of language cross-linguistically.

If you choose to be in this study, you will receive neurological examination, cognitive and behavioral tests (including paper and pencil tests, computer/tablet tests and questionnaires) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The entire evaluation process takes about 8 hours and can be completed within one month in stages. Though part of the cognitive and behavioral test can be conducted remotely via virtual testing, you will have to visit the UCSF Memory and Aging Center at least once to complete in-person neurological examination and brain MRI study.

Connect with a study center

  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, California 94158
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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