BioFINDER-Brown: Examination of Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers

Launched by BUTLER HOSPITAL · Jul 11, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The BioFINDER-Brown clinical trial is a research study aimed at finding early signs of Alzheimer's disease by examining specific biological markers, which could help in screening people for the disease before symptoms appear. This study will take place at the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital and will involve up to 200 healthy adults aged 50 to 80 years. Participants will be involved in the study for about four years, and those who choose to can also participate in optional risk assessments and imaging tests.

To be eligible for the study, participants must be between 50 and 80 years old and demonstrate good cognitive function through specific tests. Additionally, those aged 50 to 60 need to have a family history of dementia or certain genetic factors. It's important that participants can understand the study procedures in English and can provide consent. People with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, or those with significant brain injuries or other serious health issues, are not eligible to participate. If you join the study, you can expect regular check-ins and assessments over the next few years, contributing to valuable research that could benefit future Alzheimer's patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Individuals between the ages of 50 and 80 years old (inclusive)
• • Score of 16 or above on the MoCA telephone
• • Score of 27 or greater on the MMSE for individuals aged 50 to 64 years old or a score of 26 or greater for individuals aged 65 to 80 years old
• • Participants in the 50-60 age range will additionally need to meet at least one of the following: (1) First degree family history of dementia with onset before age 75; (2) APOE e4 allele carrier; or (3) Prior elevated result on amyloid PET or amyloid CSF testing
• • Conversationally fluent in English to the extent that an interpreter is not necessary for comprehension of the study information, procedures, and cognitive tests.
• • If participants elect to participate in the optional disclosure procedure, they will be required to have an appropriate study partner who agrees to participate in the study and who is intellectually, visually, and auditory capable, and conversationally fluent in English to the extent that an interpreter is not necessary.
• • Adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing.
• • Participants must be willing and able to provide written informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia
• • History of significant brain injury or other known neurologic disease or insult, resulting in lasting cognitive sequelae that would confound the assessment and staging of potential neurodegenerative disease (e.g., Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Parkinsonism due to multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), Shy Drager Syndrome (SDS) or other neuro-degenerative dementias, encephalitis or other brain infection, epilepsy or stroke with lasting impairment to cognitive function).
• • Current serious or unstable systemic illness or organ failure that, in the PI's judgement, would make it difficult to participate in the study (e.g., such as terminal cancer, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, gastroenterological, respiratory, endocrinologic, neurologic, psychiatric, immunologic, or hematologic disease or other conditions ). History of cancer is acceptable with at least one year in remission with a good prognosis.
• • Individuals with clinically significant depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or suicidal ideations within the past year as defined by the most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
• • A history of schizophrenia as defined by the most current version of the DSM.
• • History within the past year of chronic alcohol or drug abuse/dependence as defined by the most current version of the DSM.
• • Marijuana use is acceptable, but frequent users will be asked to abstain from use within 24 hours of any assessments.
• • Refusing or unable to complete any study procedures.
• • Currently enrolled in another study which involves clinical drug trial or other medical intervention.