Enhancing Cognitive Health Outcomes:
The ECHO Program

Background
We are looking to involve 160 participants (80 persons with early-stage dementia and their primary caregiver) in our new ECHO program: Enhancing Cognitive Health Outcomes. The overall goal of this program is to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the multi-component ECHO intervention for persons with early-stage dementia (PESDs).  The ECHO intervention: 1) builds cognitive reserve in order to slow the rate of cognitive decline 2) alleviates Late-Life Depression (LLD); and 3) enhances well being for PESDs and their family caregivers (CGs).   

Funding and Timeframe
The ECHO project is funded by Ohio Department of Aging through the Administration on Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services. Recruitment will begin in March, 2009 and continue until complete but no later than March, 2010.

Subject Eligibility

Contact Information
Please direct all questions regarding subject eligibility and referrals to the ECHO Program Coordinator, Silvia Orsulic-Jeras, by phone at (216) 373-1625, or by email at sjeras@benrose.org.

If you have any further questions regarding the ECHO Program, please contact Dr. Carol Whitlatch, Principal Investigator, by phone at (216) 373-1629 or by email at cwhitlat@benrose.org.

Enhancing Cognitive Health Outcomes:
The ECHO Program

The Margaret Blenkner Research Institute of Benjamin Rose is looking for persons with early- stage dementia and their family members to take part in a new project: The ECHO Program.

• What is the ECHO program?
  The ECHO Program (Enhancing Cognitive Health Outcomes) was developed by researchers at the Benjamin Rose Institute in order to help persons with early-stage dementia and their family members stay mentally active, learn more about early stage dementia and the symptoms that often accompany it, and improve their overall communication skills.
  
• What is the purpose of ECHO?
  Research has shown that doing mental exercises may slow down the progression of early- stage dementia. In combination with treatments designed to help alleviate some of the emotional symptoms and family care challenges that often accompany a diagnosis of dementia, may be a meaningful help families manage day-to-day tasks and plan for the future. ECHO combines three techniques to help persons with early-stage dementia and their family members prepare for the changes that lie ahead.
  
• What can I expect if I participate in ECHO?
  If you are a person diagnosed with a memory impairing condition, you may be asked to perform “mental exercises” with either assigned reading tasks or with a computer program on a computer we provide for three 20-minute sessions per week for thirteen weeks. In addition, you may qualify for anywhere between two to four 60-90 minute sessions of counseling with an ECHO Counselor. Finally, in combination with your caregiver, you may be invited to participate in seven sessions of counseling designed to help you and your loved one with communication skills and coping with the changes you are both experiencing. All computer and counseling sessions will take place in your home or another place of your choice over a 4-month period.
  
• Who do I contact for more information about the ECHO Program?
  If you would like more information about the ECHO Program, please contact Silvia Orsulic-Jeras by phone at (216) 373-1625, or by email at sjeras@benrose.org.

Please inform Margaret Blenkner Research Institute that they were referred to this study through the Alzheimer’s Association Cleveland Area Chapter

 Testing The Intelligence of Older Adults:
Vision Linked to Cognitive Competence

Click here to read this article about
local researcher and Dean of the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Grover C. Gilmore, Ph.D.

Visual Perception in Alzheimer’s Disease
Dr. Grover C. Gilmore, PhD.

The Perception Lab of Case Western Reserve University (Psychology Department) is conducting a study of certain visual characteristics of both healthy older adults and patients with Alzheimer’s disease.  The purpose of this study is to help us learn and provide more information on vision and aging, and potentially improve the lives of those who experience more severe memory problems.

The potential research participant will be asked to undergo a series of cognitive, visual, mood, and health screening questions and tests.  If eligible, the participant will then be scheduled for three to four 2-hour sessions at the Perception Lab at Case Western Reserve University, 11220 Bellflower Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.  All screening and research study sessions are completely non-invasive. The research sessions include tasks such as reading words on a computer screen, solving puzzles, as well as some simulated “real world” tasks such as making a telephone call or measuring ingredients as one would do when cooking.  Participants will be compensated for their time and expenses.

We are interested in enrolling two groups of older adults:  adults over age 50 without Alzheimer’s disease and adults with Alzheimer’s disease.

To be eligible, the potential participant should have no major eye diseases such as glaucoma or macular degeneration (cataracts are OK); no history of major heart disease, stroke, or diabetes; and must be a native speaker of the English language.  Patients with Alzheimer’s disease should be in the mild to moderate stages of the disease such that they are still able to communicate and perform tasks such as reading.

If interested, please contact the Perception Lab at 216-368-6465, or e-mail us at perceptionlab@case.edu.   One of our research staff will be happy to discuss the study in more detail with you.

Enrolling Now:  ABT-089
Men and women ages 55 to 90 are needed to participate in a research study of an investigational medication for Alzheimer’s disease.  Participants must be currently taking Aricept®, Exelon® or Razadyne®.  Health insurance is not required.

Qualified participants will receive at no cost

• Study medication
• Study related medical care
• Memory testing

Reimbursement for time and travel is available.
Contact Elaine Ziol at 216-844-6328 for more information.

Enrolling Now:  Home-Based Assessment
 This study will evaluate three in-home types of information gathering (telephone, electric kiosk, or mail-in forms) and determine how practical each method is.

To be included participants must be:
Age 75 or older

• Fluent in English
• Able to live independently
• Have normal mental function
• Be willing to take multi-vitamins provided by the study
• Be able to answer and dial a telephone, have access to secure mail, possess minimal computer skills or a willingness to learn.

Contact Susie Sami at 216-844-6351 for more information.

Enrolling Soon:

• RAGE Inhibitor
• AAB-001
• Intravenous Immunoglobulin
• Aricept SR

Who's Eligible to participate?

Your family is eligible to participate if they meet the following criteria:

• A living family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
• The family member with AD has a living brother or sister (full sibling) who is willing to participate in the study.
• Eligible family members will be asked to complete a family medical history questionnaire.
• Patient and sibling will be asked to donate a small sample of blood, and MRI at the study's expense.

Study Participants receive:

• A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and summery report sent to your physician, if you wish
• Enrollment in the University Memory & Aging Center Research Registry.
• Monetary compensation for time and effort
• Confidential participation and access to a top area Neurologist and leader in Alzheimer's Research.

Mirage (Multi Institutional research in Alzheimer's Genetic Epidemiology) CWRU is one of thirteen sites funded for this project by the NIH - National Institute on Health.

The Caregiver Knowledge and Skills Project is a research study being conducted by the University Memory and Aging Center of Case Western University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center.  The goal of the study is to learn how best to help family members of persons with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia increase their knowledge and skills related to caregiving.

Participating caregivers will:

• Take part with other caregivers in six two-hour workshop sessions (one per week for 6 weeks), designed to provide knowledge and skills for family caregivers;
• read materials and practice what is learned in the workshop between the weekly sessions;
• take part in an 8-month follow-up program - either by mail or by computer - designed to extend and enhance benefits of the workshop, with the type of followup determined randomly.
• answer questions by mail about their well being and their experiences with the attitudes toward caregiving for times over the course of the study;
• be asked to give their opinions about the workshop and follow up programs when the study is completed.

There are no costs for participation and the study has been approved by the University Hospitals Case Medical Center Institutional Review Board.

If you are caring for someone with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease or other type of dementia who is living at home, and would like to learn more about the Caregiver Knowledge and Skills Project, please call Nancy at 216-844-6357

UPCOMING RESEARCH

Study title: A 24-week, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, parallel group study to investigate the effects of rosiglitazone (extended release tablets), donepezil, and placebo as monotherapy on congition and overall clinical response in APOE Î4-stratified subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

 Primary Objective

To investigate the effects of daily dosing for 24 weeks with RSG XR(extended release) versus donepezil or placebo on cognitive function and overall clinical response in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease as a function of APOE Î4 status.

All study related medical exams, laboratory tests and study medications will be provided to qualifying participants at no cost.  Patient participation is anticipated to be approximately 32 weeks with 9 clinic visits.

CONTACT: Joy Kettren, MS (Study Coordinator) 216-445-0283