NCT05457725 Modulating Neurocognitive Processes of Learning to Trust and Distrust in Aging
| NCT ID | NCT05457725 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Florida |
| Condition | Aging |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 68 participants |
| Start Date | 2024-10-08 |
| Primary Completion | 2027-04-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 68 participants in total. It began in 2024-10-08 with a primary completion date of 2027-04-30.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Much of human interaction is based on trust. Aging has been associated with deficits in trust-related decision making, likely further exacerbated in age-associated neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer's disease/AD), possibly underlying the dramatically growing public health problem of elder fraud. Optimal trust-related decision making and avoiding exploitation require the ability to learn about the trustworthiness of social partners across multiple interactions, but the role that learning plays in determining age deficits in trust decisions is currently unknown. Aim: Probe the malleability of the underlying neurocircuitry of trust-learning deficits in aging. This study will utilize real-time fMRI neurofeedback to train older adults in brain activity up-regulation toward enhanced trust-related learning in aging and confirm critical mechanisms of experience-dependent social decisions in aging. Grant R01AG072658 Aim 3: Test the malleability of trust-learning neurocircuitry toward optimized trust-related decision making in aging.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Able to provide verbal and written informed consent * Fluent English speaker * At least 8th grade education * On stable medication regimen Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * Magnetic resonance imaging contraindications (e.g., certain metallic objects in body, claustrophobia) * Current major depression defined as scores \>14 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II * Impaired scores on the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS; cut-off of \>30) * Current use of medications with significant anticholinergic properties due to potential influence on memory ("memory enhancing"; e.g., Aricept or Namenda) * Current use of anticonvulsant, neuroleptic, sedatives, or other medications known to affect cognition * Uncorrected visual and hearing impairments * Neurologic conditions affecting the brain (e.g., severe stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury with \>30-minute loss of consciousness) * Impaired scores on a cognitive screening measure, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); for older adults the cutoff will be age and education corrected * Unstable medical illness (e.g., metastatic cancer) * Significant cardiovascular conditions (e.g., major heart attack) * Will not exclude participants who are taking anti-depressant medications. Use of antidepressants (particularly SSRI's) and anxiolytic medications will be recorded and included in post-hoc analyses
Contact & Investigator
Natalie C. Ebner, PhD.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University of Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT05457725 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 100 Years, studying Aging. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT05457725 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT05457725 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at arnold.d@ufl.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT05457725 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Gainesville, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT05457725 clinical trial?
NCT05457725 is sponsored by University of Florida. The principal investigator is Natalie C. Ebner, PhD. at University of Florida. The trial plans to enroll 68 participants.