An observational study in Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Neurocognitive Disorder and Progressive Primary Aphasia Semantic Variant, sponsored by Hospices Civils de Lyon. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 50 Years to 90 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-07.
Sponsored by Hospices Civils de Lyon · Observational
This protocol describes a study aimed at evaluating the psychometric properties of the ExéSem battery, developed to differentiate semantic deficits from executive semantic impairments in patients with post-lesional or neurodegenerative anomia. Currently available tools do not allow a straightforward distinction between these deficits, limiting diagnostic accuracy and clinical management. The ExéSem battery was developed through a collaboration between Hospices Civils de Lyon, the University of Mons, and Laval University to address this gap.
The battery includes three main tasks: (1) a dual task combining semantic judgment and semantic matching using identical items, (2) a word-picture matching task, and (3) a rapid naming task. Each task is designed to manipulate the level of executive control required to access semantic representations. This allows the identification of whether performance declines under increased executive demand, thereby distinguishing executive-related semantic impairments.
This protocol describes a study aimed at evaluating the psychometric properties of the ExéSem battery, developed to differentiate semantic deficits from executive semantic impairments in patients with post-lesional or neurodegenerative anomia. Currently available tools do not allow a straightforward distinction between these deficits, limiting diagnostic accuracy and clinical management. The ExéSem battery was developed through a collaboration between Hospices Civils de Lyon, the University of Mons, and Laval University to address this gap.
The battery includes three main tasks: (1) a dual task combining semantic judgment and semantic matching using identical items, (2) a word-picture matching task, and (3) a rapid naming task. Each task is designed to manipulate the level of executive control required to access semantic representations. This allows the identification of whether performance declines under increased executive demand, thereby distinguishing executive-related semantic impairments.
The primary objective is to assess the sensitivity of the ExéSem battery by comparing performances between participants with neurocognitive disorders (mild or major) and cognitively healthy controls. Secondary objectives include evaluating specificity, concurrent validity through comparison with established neuropsychological tests (BECLA, Trail Making Test, Stroop), and the influence of demographic variables (age, sex, education level).
This is a prospective, experimental, comparative, single-center study, classified as a non-interventional study involving human participants (RIPH3). Two populations will be included: cognitively healthy individuals and patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, vascular neurocognitive disorder, or semantic variant primary progressive aphasia. Participants will be aged 50 to 90 years, native French speakers, affiliated with a social security system, and informed with non-opposition collected.
The primary endpoint is the total score on the ExéSem battery (maximum score: 172). Secondary endpoints include sub-scores for each task (semantic judgment and matching, word-picture matching, rapid naming), as well as performance on reference tests to assess convergent validity. The effects of age, sex, and education level, as well as task completion times, will also be analyzed.
A single study visit is planned. After receiving information and a reflection period, participants will complete demographic questionnaires and undergo cognitive assessments, including screening tests (MoCA, DTLA for controls), reference tests (Trail Making Test, Stroop, BECLA), and the ExéSem battery. The total duration of testing is approximately 80 minutes, including 30 minutes for ExéSem.
Risks are minimal and mainly related to cognitive fatigue. Participants with abnormal screening results will be referred for further clinical evaluation outside the study. This research aims to improve diagnostic accuracy in semantic disorders and to better guide cognitive rehabilitation strategies.
3,965 studies on the registry are indexed under Alzheimer Disease; 926 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 140 is below the median of 200 across 814 observational studies indexed under Alzheimer Disease.
Browse Alzheimer Disease studies →Hospices Civils de Lyon is the lead sponsor of 1,866 studies on the registry; 448 are open to participants now.
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The study population includes two groups aged 50 to 90 years: cognitively healthy participants and patients with mild to moderate neurocognitive disorders (MMSE ≥20/30), including Alzheimer's disease, vascular neurocognitive disorder, or semantic variant primary progressive aphasia.
Healthy participants are recruited on a voluntary basis through flyers displayed in the Charpennes Hospital and distributed by speech therapy and neuropsychology students. Interested individuals contact the Clinical Research Center (CRC), where they receive initial information during a phone call and are provided with the study information sheet before scheduling an inclusion visit.
Patients with neurocognitive disorders are recruited during routine clinical care (consultation or day hospital assessment).
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
MMSE and MoCA
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participanst with a MoCA score greater than or equal to 26/30 and a score greater than the alert threshold based on age and education level on the DTLA scale. Participants who have never received a diagnosis of cognitive impairment.
Diagnostic Test: ExéSem cognitive battery
Participants receiving memory clinic care with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, at the stage of minor or major neurocognitive impairment, according to the 2011 NIA-AA criteria, or with a diagnosis of vascular neurocognitive impairment according to the VasCog-2-WSO diagnostic criteria , or with a diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia with semantic variant. Participants with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 20/30, within the 6 months preceding enrollment;
Diagnostic Test: ExéSem cognitive battery
The ExéSem battery is a neuropsychological assessment tool designed to evaluate semantic processing and the contribution of executive control in patients with or without neurocognitive disorders. It consists of three tasks: (1) a dual task combining semantic judgment and semantic matching using identical items, (2) a word-to-picture matching task, and (3) a rapid naming task. Each task is structured to manipulate the level of executive demand required to access semantic representations. This variation allows the identification of whether semantic difficulties remain stable or worsen under increased executive load, thereby distinguishing primary semantic deficits from executive-related semantic impairments. The battery is administered by a trained professional using standardized instructions and requires approximately 30 minutes to complete. It is used for diagnostic and research purposes only and does not involve any therapeutic intervention.
Score obtained on the ExéSem battery
The primary outcome is the total score on the ExéSem battery (max=172), assessing semantic and executive-semantic processing. The battery includes semantic judgment (30 items), semantic matching (20 items), word-image matching (72 items), and rapid naming (50 items). Tasks vary in executive demand to determine whether performance declines under increased cognitive load, distinguishing primary semantic deficits from executive-related impairments.
Time frame: At enrollment
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Aug 2029, 35 months later.
Of 364 non-industry observational studies under Alzheimer Disease, half reached primary completion within 81 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 39 and three quarters within 203. This study's planned 35 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 405 studies reached it within 67 months; a quarter within 35 and three quarters within 171.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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