Exploring rapid learning in aging and memory disorders

Rapid Declarative Neocortical Declarative Learning in Aging and Memory

Not applicable Interventional Rennes University Hospital · NCT04846764

This study is testing how older adults and people with memory disorders can still learn and remember things despite having damage to a part of the brain called the hippocampus.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment94 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorRennes University Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Rennes)
Trial IDNCT04846764 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The ANéRAVIMM project investigates how associative memory can persist despite hippocampal damage, particularly in aging and neurological diseases. It employs three experimental cognitive tasks to evaluate the effectiveness of different learning paradigms in patients with memory disorders. The first two tasks focus on the competition between learning systems affected by age, while the third task assesses the ability to create integrated memory representations of visual objects. This comprehensive approach aims to uncover the cognitive and cerebral bases of neocortical learning.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include healthy volunteers aged 18-40 or 60-80, as well as patients with mild neurocognitive impairment or specific neurological conditions.

Not a fit: Patients with MRI contraindications or sensory deficits that interfere with the experiments may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance memory rehabilitation strategies for patients with cognitive impairments.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach is innovative, previous studies have shown promise in understanding neocortical learning systems, suggesting potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy Volunteers

* aged 18 to 40 years old and aged 60 to 80 years old
* native French speaker
* right-handed
* with a level of education greater than or equal to the Certificate of Primary Education
* free of any medical or psychiatric condition that may interfere with cognition

Neurological patients

* patients with mild neurocognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease
* patients with semantic dementia syndrome
* right-handed patients with a right or left unilateral surgical lesion of the anterior temporal lobe as a result of pharmaco resistant temporal epilepsy, with no seizures in the last 6 months, with a memory quotient greater than 75, and free of internal extra temporal lesions on MRI
* patients with autoimmune limbic encephalitis who have been seizure-free for one month
* 1 KA patient, suffering from the rare syndrome of developmental amnesia

Exclusion Criteria:

All participants

* MRI contraindications
* sensory deficit interfering with experimental tests
* protected major (safeguard justice, trusteeship and guardianship) and persons deprived of liberty

Healthy volunteers

- deficit score on the MoCA scale according to current calibrations

Neurologic patients

* 7-items modified Hachinski ischemic score \>2
* dementia
* epileptic seizure in the month prior to inclusion for epileptic patients undergoing surgery and limbic encephalitis patients

Where this trial is running

Rennes

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Neurological DiseasesCentral Nervous System
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.