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Find more clinical trials

Interventions for People With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias and Dysphagia (Swallowing Problems)

Start: September 25, 2020
End: June 2024
Enrollment: 152

What Is This Study About?

Swallowing problems, known as Dysphagia, frequently develops in patients with Alzheimer's disease and leads to decreased quality of life as well as serious health consequences, including malnutrition, pneumonia, and death. This pilot randomized clinical trial will determine the effectiveness of two interventions to improve swallowing, lingual (tongue area) strengthening exercises and use of a saliva substitute (Biotene). Patient-caregiver pairs will be randomized to an intervention, a combination of the two, or usual care. The trial will also evaluate which subgroups of patients would most likely benefit from the interventions. The study will last for nine weeks, and the data will be used in designing a larger multi-site study.

Do I Qualify To Participate in This Study?

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 99 Years

Must have:

Participants with Memory Loss

  • Able to speak in English
  • Age 50-99
  • Diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment or memory loss
  • Videofluoroscopic swallow study ordered by their clinician as part of their clinical care
  • Actively involved caregiver
  • Residing at home or in an assisted living facility

Caregivers

  • Able to speak in English
  • 18 years and older
  • Contact with participant at least once a week
  • Access to a working telephone

Must NOT have:

Participants with Memory Loss

  • Current/active stroke diagnosis
  • History of head and neck cancer or other structural deformity that can affect swallowing
  • Allergy to barium
  • Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant

If I Qualify, Who Do I Contact?

Contact study personnel listed either under the general study contact or the location nearest you.

Study Contact
Sara Gustafson, MS, CCC-SLP
Meredith Mackowicz-Torres, MS, CCC-SLP

Need Help?

Contact NIA’s Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center at 800-438-4380 or email ADEAR.

Where Is This Study Located?

Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI 53705
Recruiting
Sara Gustafson, MS, CCC-SLP

Who Sponsors This Study?

Lead: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03682081

alzheimers.gov

An official website of the U.S. government, managed by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health