Longitudinal Imaging of Microglial Activation in Different Clinical Variants of Alzheimer's Disease
Patrick Lao
100 participants
Nov 17, 2020
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine how inflammation is related to other changes in the brain that occur during the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The investigators are also studying how inflammation is related to the symptoms that first occur in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). For this reason, the investigators are asking people with different versions of Alzheimer's disease and/or other related dementias to participate. This includes patients with: * Mild Cognitive Impairment * Posterior cortical atrophy - a version of Alzheimer's disease with vision difficulties * Logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia - a version of Alzheimer's disease with language difficulties * Amnestic Alzheimer's disease - a "typical" version of Alzheimer's disease with memory difficulties * The investigators are also enrolling older adults with normal visual, language, and memory function.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria7
- Age 50 and over at time of screening.
- At screening, must have no cognitive impairment, or meet criteria for amnestic Alzheimer's disease, posterior cortical atrophy, or logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia. Diagnoses will be made based on history, exam, neuropsychological testing, brain MRI, and consensus diagnosis.
- Patients must have Clinical Dementia Rating scale score of 0.5 or 1 at enrollment. Controls must have Clinical Dementia Rating scale score of 0 at enrollment.
- Subjects unable to provide informed consent must have a surrogate decision maker.
- Written and oral fluency in English or Spanish.
- Able to participate in all scheduled evaluations and to complete all required tests and procedures.
- In the opinion of the PI, the subject must be considered likely to comply with the study protocol and to have a high probability of completing the study.
Exclusion Criteria6
- Past or present history of a brain disorder other than Alzheimer's disease (including presence of cortical infarct on MRI even in absence of clinical stroke).
- Serious medical conditions, which make study procedures of the current study unsafe. Such serious medical conditions include uncontrolled epilepsy and multiple serious injuries.
- Contraindication to MRI scanning.
- Conditions precluding entry into the scanners (e.g. morbid obesity, claustrophobia, etc.).
- Exposure to research related radiation in the past year that, when combined with this study, would place subjects above the allowable limits.
- Exact medication exclusions are up to the discretion of the PI in consultation with the MD liaison.
Interventions
11C-ER176 sticks to parts of the brain where there is inflammation. Past studies have shown that inflammation is present in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The purpose of this study is to determine if 11C-ER176 is able to accurately measure inflammation in patients with Alzheimer's disease. 11C-ER176 will be administered at activity up to 20 millicurie (mCi) per injection.
MK-6240 measures a protein called in the brain. MK-6240 is experimental but has been used in several human studies before and has been proven to accurately measure tau in the brain.
Florbetaben has been approved by the FDA to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease. florbetaben measures amyloid in the brain.
Inflammation can also be measured by looking at certain proteins in the spinal fluid. In order to measure these proteins in the spinal fluid, the investigators will perform a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT04576793