Study of Repetitive Behaviors in Alzheimer's Disease

NCT07732842 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2021-A00631-40
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 103
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by anterograde amnesia, the inability to memorize and remember events occurring after the cerebral lesion. Among the most frequently reported psychobehavioral symptoms are repetitive behaviors (RBs), defined as actions or statements repeated in an inappropriate and non-functional way. The most commonly used tool to assess repetitive behaviors is the Stereotypy Rating Inventory (SRI). It is a questionnaire that evaluates five types of stereotypical behavior: eating, wandering, speech, movements, and daily routines. The frequency and severity of the behaviors are reported, and a total score can be calculated. There is no consensus on the types of repetitive behaviors observed specifically in AD, their frequency, or their cognitive correlates, nor is there a hypothesis explaining why these symptoms do not occur in all AD patients. Furthermore, certain parameters, such as anosognosia (lack of awareness of the disorders), have not been linked to RBs in the literature. We propose to evaluate patients with anterograde amnesia in terms of cognition and behavior-specifically, the presence or absence of both RBs and anosognosia-to examine possible links between cognitive performance, anosognosia, and RB. Moreover, there is no theoretical framework explaining the emergence of RBs in amnesia. We suggest that RBs are linked to a lack of memory updating in the cognitive system. Since episodic memory no longer provides mnemonic feedback, previously encountered stimuli may trigger repeated behavior. To test this hypothesis, we decided to conduct a multicenter, cross-sectional, case-control study. Patients with AD, with or without RBs, as well as healthy subjects, were repeatedly presented with sentence starters to complete freely, with the aim of studying the similarity of responses across sessions for each participant. We also included a patient with pure anterograde amnesia from a previously submitted case study protocol, who exhibited pronounced RBs symptomatology following neurosurgery (non-AD patient), to examine the phenomenon in a non-Alzheimer's context.

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Anterograde Amnesia; Anosognosia

Keywords

Repetitive behavior

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Characterize the type of repetitive behaviour (RB) observed in AD and estimate its frequency in this disease

  The repetitive behavior score is obtained using the Stereotypy Inventory Rating (SRI) scale after the participant has been included in the study. The five types of stereotypical behavioral disturbances: eating behaviors, wandering, speech, movements, and daily rhythms are collected. A score of zero means no repetitive behavior, and a score strictly above 0 means the presence of repetitive behavior.

  At enrollment

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Investigate cognitive characteristics in Alzheimer's disease patients that explain the presence or absence of repetitive behaviour (RB).

  At enrollment

• Investigate the possible link between repetitive behavior and anosognosia.

  At enrollment

Study Arms (4)

Patients with repetitive behavior (RB+)

Patients without repetitive behavior (RB-)

Control group

Patient with anterograde amnesia (AA)

Patient with anterograde amnesia , resulting from complications following neurosurgery (non-Alzheimer Disease patient).

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of: * 42 patients RB+ and 30 patients RB- patients recruited at the CMRR in Limoges and Nantes during their follow-up appointments for Alzheimer's disease. * 30 healthy subjects who are caregivers for patients monitored at the CMRR in Limoges. * And the patient with AA anterograde amnesia, who was recruited as part of his follow-up at the CMRR in Limoges for his severe anterograde amnesia caused by brain damage to the fornix pillars following complications from neurosurgery.

You may qualify if:

• I- RB+ (n=42) and RB- (n=30) groups :
• MMSE \> 20
• reliable family caregiver identified per patient
• Patients under legal protection (guardianship/curatorship) or not
• Selection:
• a. AD patients with an SRI score \> 0 will constitute the RB+ subgroup. 4.b. Only the first 30 patients included will undergo V2, V3, and V4. The first 30 AD patients included with an SRI score = 0 will constitute the RB- subgroup.
• II- Control group: healthy subjects (n=30)
• Healthy subjects
• MMSE ≥ 26/30
• Men and women matched to AD patients in terms of age and sociocultural level.
• Healthy subjects will be included by the CMRR in Limoges
• III- Control group: Patient with anterograde amnesia (AA) (n=1):
• The patient with anterograde amnesia is a patient who participated in the ANISAAFORNIX study (another study submitted by the investigator) and is included in this study due to rich RB symptomatology. He is a 54-year-old man with lesions of the fornix following complications from neurosurgery, which led to severe anterograde amnesia. This patient does not have AD.
• This patient is under legal protection (guardianship).
• Patient monitored and included at the CMRR in Limoges.

You may not qualify if:

• Isolated participants (without an identified caregiver) (RB+ and RB- groups)
• Participants must not have a history of alcohol or other substance dependence in the past 12 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre Hospitalier Esquirol: lead

Study Sites (1)

Esquirol Hospital Center

Limoges, New Aquitaine, 87025, France

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Amnesia, Anterograde; Agnosia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Amnesia; Memory Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Perceptual Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Clément POLIN, PhD neuropsychology

CONTACT

555431215; clement.polin@ch-esquirol-limoges.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 23, 2026
• First Posted: July 29, 2026
• Study Start: June 24, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 24, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 24, 2027
• Last Updated: September 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)