Swallowing Impairments in Adults With and Without Alzheimer's Disease (NCT06678100) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Swallowing Impairments in Adults With and Without Alzheimer's Disease
United States240 participantsStarted 2025-04-21
Plain-language summary
This research study is investigating whether people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience more changes to swallowing than their healthy age-matched peers. The prevalence of swallowing impairments in moderate-severe AD is high (85-93%), yet little is known about how swallow function evolves throughout the disease course in people with AD. The overall objective of this study is to evaluate swallowing function in adults with and without Alzheimer's disease. The investigator will also be involving the primary caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's that are enrolled in the study to better understand the impact of swallowing impairments on the primary caregivers of those with Alzheimer's Disease.
Healthy adults and individuals with Alzheimer's disease will:
* undergo tests of cough and swallow function
* undergo tests of grip and tongue strength
* complete questionnaires
Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease will also complete questionnaires.
Who can participate
Age range
60 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. adult ≥60 years old
. diagnosis of AD by a neurologist (confirmed with imaging, spinal tap, behavioral testing)
. no prior history of other neurological diseases (aside from stroke which has resolved with no current symptoms)
. no prior history of respiratory diseases
. no prior history of head and neck surgery/head and neck cancer/radiation to head and neck region
. consuming some form of oral intake
. able to follow basic directions
. able/willing to provide consent/assent.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Swallowing safety
Timeframe: During baseline visit at time of enrollment.
. History of head and neck surgery/head and neck cancer/radiation to head and neck region
. not consuming any oral intake
. Unable to follow basic directions
. Unable to provide consent based on the University of California, San Diego Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent (UBACC), score \<15 OR provide assent and a legal guardian/health care decision maker provides consent.