Alzheimer's Disease & Brain Changes Research Study
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine want to learn more about how the brain changes with Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, they are evaluating how certain proteins influence the progression of Alzheimer's. Help advance clinical research and join our study today!
Fast Facts
55-90 years old
Mild Alzheimer's disease or Cognitive Impairment
able to provide signed informed consent
Compensation Provided
conducted in the greater NYC area
Study Background
Tau is a type of protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure of neurons in the brain. Under normal circumstances, tau helps stabilize internal support structures that help transport nutrients in neurons. However, in Alzheimer’s disease, tau proteins become abnormally twisted and tangled. The accumulation of these “tau tangles” is one of the main hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
We hypothesize that tau, neurodegeneration, microglia, and systemic inflammation are involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Our study is designed to validate these relationships for the first time in humans using a longitudinal study.
Your participation in this research study will help researchers get a better understanding of the causes and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Help further brain research and join our study today!
Study Background
Tau is a type of protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure of neurons in the brain. Under normal circumstances, tau helps stabilize internal support structures that help transport nutrients in neurons. However, in Alzheimer’s disease, tau proteins become abnormally twisted and tangled. The accumulation of these “tau tangles” is one of the main hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
We hypothesize that tau, neurodegeneration, microglia, and systemic inflammation are involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Our study is designed to validate these relationships for the first time in humans using a longitudinal study.
Your participation in this research study will help researchers get a better understanding of the causes and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Help further brain research and join our study today!
Additional Information
The primary purpose of this research study is to understand the interactions between tau and microglia-mediated inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease.
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Key Criteria:
55-90 years old
Able to provide signed informed consent (with or without a legal authorized representative) and willing to comply with protocol requirements
A clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer’s disease
- No other unrelated neurological diseases (ex. stroke, obstructive hydrocephalus or epilepsy)
- No nonremovable metal on or in your body (ex. metal implants, pacemakers, etc.)
If you are eligible and decide to participate in this clinical research study, your study visits will involve:
- Informed consent
- Medical and medication history
- Neurological exam
- Questionnaires/Cognitive testing
- Blood collection for genotyping, biomarker testing and/or future research
- Brain MRI
- Vital signs
- PET/CT scans
All visits will be repeated at 18-30 months and again at 36-48 months.
