Unexpected clear moments near the end of severe dementia
Paradoxical lucidity in severe end stage dementia: a mixed methods prospective study
This project looks at whether people with advanced dementia sometimes have brief, unexpected periods of clear thinking and what those moments are like.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11113901 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has advanced dementia, researchers will follow people near the end of life to document unexpected periods of clarity. Caregivers will be interviewed and asked to report behaviors, memories, and the timing of these episodes. When possible, clinicians will record brain activity and collect other biological markers to see if measurable changes accompany lucidity. The team will combine observations, interviews, and physiological data to describe how often these episodes happen and what they involve.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with advanced or end-stage dementia (and their caregivers), particularly those receiving care in settings where observation and monitoring can be arranged.
Not a fit: People with mild or early-stage dementia, unrelated neurological conditions, or those unwilling to participate in caregiver interviews or monitoring are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, this work could help families and clinicians recognize and respond to brief returns of clarity and guide future treatments aimed at restoring cognitive function.
How similar studies have performed: This is a relatively new area for dementia—while similar lucid episodes have been reported after cardiac arrest and linked to brief brain activity surges, systematic study of paradoxical lucidity in dementia is limited.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parnia, Sam — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Parnia, Sam
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.