fMRI of Vulnerable Brain Regions in Persons at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease (ALZ)

University of Wisconsin (UW)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Risk; Alzheimer's Disease; Dementia; Adult Children; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00478491

2002-515

NIH RO1 AG021155A

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to investigate the organization of memory and develop future methods for early detection of AD. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we examine the responsiveness of the brain to memory tasks, specifically focusing on regions of the brain (the mesial temporal lobe and posterior cingulate) that are known to be involved in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Of interest are differences in brain activation between people with and without a family history of AD and other risk factors.

Enrollment: 390 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• MCI Group: Diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment
• AD Family History Group: Confirmed family history of Alzheimer's and concurrent enrollment in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP)
• Control Groups: Cognitively healthy and both parents survived past age 70 with no memory problems

Exclusion criteria

• Claustrophobia
• Metallic or electronic implants or devices that are not MRI-safe

Trial design

390 participants in 4 patient groups

1

Description:

Persons with a parent with Alzheimer's disease

2

Description:

Persons whose parents survived to old age without memory problems

3

Description:

Persons with diagnosed mild cognitive impairment

4

Description:

Persons without memory problems