Assessing biomarkers of awareness in people with advanced Alzheimer’s disease in care homes‐ a feasibility and pilot study

Background There is an urgent need to understand the nature of awareness in advanced AD ensure effective person-centred care. As dementia progresses, it can become very difficult for family members and caregivers lived experience a person with dementia, assumptions are often made about their level quality life based on observations behaviour. However, such subject bias misinterpretation. In addition, there anecdotal reports variability apparent moments lucidity, however no objective data how this relates changes underlying brain activity or subjective experience. Method This feasibility pilot study uses electrophysiological physiological biomarkers assess emotional responsiveness real-world setting. These approaches include 1) 7 channel EEG 2) Bispectral index monitoring 3) markers response (heart rate, electrodermal activity, accelerometry, temperature). were collected during 1 hour protocol involving rest, musical stimulation, visual stimulation interaction caregivers. Result We report using these 15 people (sMMSE 0, CDR who reside specialist care homes. Data was ‘real world’ home setting feasible acceptable staff. Preliminary will be presented baseline arousal AD, whether differentiate between rest emotionally salient conditions. Conclusion provide experimental improve understanding AD.