NCT04385225

Brief Summary

The world population has been growing and aging dramatically, with a rising prevalence of dementia. Worldwide, around 50 million people have dementia, with 10 million new cases added every year. Despite the epidemic scale of dementia, until now no cure or disease-modifying therapy has been identified. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized dementia as a public health priority. Several large studies have demonstrated that hearing impairment is associated with a greater risk of cognitive impairment. Hearing rehabilitation could potentially provide a disease-modifying therapy to delay cognitive decline. Although auditory behavioral research has not yet revealed a reliable indicator of early cognitive impairment, cortical-evoked auditory potentials (CAEP) have shown promising evidence as a non-invasive way to identify early-stage cognitive impairment. The peripheral vestibular apparatus is located in the inner ear and codes rotation and translation of the head to preserve a stable view. Increasing evidence suggests that bilateral vestibular function loss, also known as bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP), leads to hippocampal atrophy and reduced spatial cognitive skills, as well as structural and functional alterations in parieto-insular and parieto-temporal regions. Many studies have demonstrated that vestibular function declines with age. Vestibular dysfunction can be linked to reduced topographical orientation and memory and has been suggested as a risk factor to AD, due to increased risk of falling and deficits in activities of daily life (ADL). Our first aim is to study the effect of SNHL and vestibular decline on CAEP, spatial and non-spatial cognitive functioning and trajectories in cognitively healthy older subjects, as well as patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. Our second aim is to study if MRI brain volume changes can be observed in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and auditory and vestibular key regions in these populations and correlate with CAEP and cognitive functioning. The expected outcome is important to society because it will provide data from a cognitive assessment protocol adapted for a potentially hearing-impaired population, objective outcome measures (incl. CAEP and MRI brain volume changes) to identify older subjects with SNHL and BVP at risk for cognitive decline, and will support screening and interventional studies to assess the impact of rehabilitation on slowing down cognitive decline.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
300

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2019

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 16, 2019

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 3, 2020

Completed
3 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 12, 2020

Completed
2.5 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 1, 2022

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 1, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

May 12, 2020

Status Verified

May 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

2.9 years

First QC Date

February 3, 2020

Last Update Submit

May 11, 2020

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status for Hearing Impaired Individuals total score

    Cognitive test adapted for hearing impaired subjects, minimum score is 200, maximum score is 800, higher scores indicate better cognitive performance

    Longitudinal follow-up for 24 months

Study Arms (6)

Healthy controls

OTHER

Age-matched controls with normal hearing or mild sensorineural hearing loss: 40 decibel or less in better hearing ear, and normal vestibular function

Other: Longitudinal follow-up

Moderate Sensorineural hearing loss

OTHER

Moderate Sensorineural hearing loss: 41-60 decibel in the better hearing ear

Other: Longitudinal follow-up

Severe Sensorineural hearing loss

OTHER

Severe Sensorineural hearing loss: 61-80 decibel in the better hearing ear

Other: Longitudinal follow-up

Bilateral Vestibulopathy

OTHER

Bilateral vestibulopathy: half with normal hearing, half with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss

Other: Longitudinal follow-up

Mild Cognitive Impairment

OTHER

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Other: Longitudinal follow-up

Alzheimer's Disease

OTHER

Alzheimer's Disease

Other: Longitudinal follow-up

Interventions

Longitudinal hearing, vestibular and cognitive follow-up

Alzheimer's DiseaseBilateral VestibulopathyHealthy controlsMild Cognitive ImpairmentModerate Sensorineural hearing lossSevere Sensorineural hearing loss

Eligibility Criteria

Age55 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Mini Mental State Examination \> 12
  • Dutch-speaking

You may not qualify if:

  • Uncorrectable visual impairment
  • Hearing implants
  • Hearing aids

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University Hospital Antwerp

Edegem, Antwerp, 2650, Belgium

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Bosmans J, Jorissen C, Cras P, Van Ombergen A, Engelborghs S, Gilles A, Princen E, Moyaert J, Mertens G, Van Rompaey V. Impact of hearing loss and vestibular decline on cognition in Alzheimer's disease: a prospective longitudinal study protocol (Gehoor, Evenwicht en Cognitie, GECkO). BMJ Open. 2020 Sep 17;10(9):e039601. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039601.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hearing Loss, SensorineuralBilateral VestibulopathyAlzheimer DiseaseCognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hearing LossHearing DisordersEar DiseasesOtorhinolaryngologic DiseasesSensation DisordersNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsVestibular DiseasesLabyrinth DiseasesDementiaBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesTauopathiesNeurodegenerative DiseasesNeurocognitive DisordersMental DisordersCognition Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Vincent Van Rompaey, Professor

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Prof. dr. Vincent Van Rompaey, principal investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 3, 2020

First Posted

May 12, 2020

Study Start

December 16, 2019

Primary Completion

November 1, 2022

Study Completion

November 1, 2022

Last Updated

May 12, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations