Los Angeles Brain

Extending and improving brain health

Research trials and innovative treatments for memory loss 

A number of breakthrough treatments are currently being evaluated by academic institutions and with collaboration of the Los Angeles Brain Sciences Project.  The current projects are currently enrolling or will be enrolling research subjects in the next 1-3 months:

• Functional and advanced MRI for the evaluation of patients with cognitive decline.  Advanced MRI looking at the brains structure and functioning has been in development for over 25 years, and the Los Angeles Brain Sciences Project in collaboration with Jordan-Franc  Neurodiagnostics in Santa Monica, California, has been the first clinical site nationwide  to evaluate these technologies for patients presenting with cognitive decline.  Advanced MRI is being studied to differentiate patients with different types of neurodegenerative disease, mood disorder, post-traumatic etiologies, and other conditions that can mimic Alzheimer's disease, and this technology is used to target personalized therapies for patients presenting with cognitive decline.  Currently enrolling

• Protein kinase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Parkinson-related cognitive decline.  Protein accumulations have been though to underlie the a number of neurodegenerative disease, and recent basic science discoveries have Implicated protein kinase inhibitors as a potential effective target for clearing these proteins from the brain.  We are partnering with an American pharmaceutical manufacturer to test an FDA approved protein kinase inhibitor in patients with cogitive decline from a number of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease.  Currently underway, enrolling next phase in 1-3 months

• Pulsed ultrasound stimulation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.  Ultrasound has been studied in basic science labs as an effective method of facilitating the clearance of the protein accumulations that result in Alzheimer's pathology causing cell loss and brain dysfunction.  This FDA-approved technology is safe and is being tested for effectiveness for the clearance of proteins that cause Alzheimer's disease and for improvement in memory and cognitive functioning.  Currently enrolling

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of mood disorders occurring in neurodegeenrative disease.   Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an effective brain stimulation technique that activates brain circuits impaired in mood disorders.  This trial evaluates for cognitive and memory improvement occurring with treatment of mood-related brain circuits.  Stimulation of brain regions affected in Alzheimier's disease is additionally being tested for cognitive improvement.  Currently enrolling

• Anti-seizure medications for the treatment of cortical hyper-excitability in Alzheimer's disease.  Early phase patient studies and basic science research have shown that the damaging hyper-excitability that can occur in Alzheimer's disease can be treated with anti-seizure medications.  Structural and functional MRI brain images and memory test results are used to establish response to treatment.  Enrolling in in 2-3 months

• Microvascular disease diagnosis and ongoing treatment with minocycline.  For patients suffering from memory loss resulting from microvascular and white matter disease, early tests have resulted in improvement in structural brain damage and cognitive tests.  This study uses advanced MRI and transcranial ultrasound direct blood flow measurements to accurately diagnose microvascular brain disease and uses minocycline to treat the underlying microvascular blood flow abnormalities.  Enrolling in 2-3 months