Cognitive Detection of Preclinical AD: Validation Using Biomarkers

Overview

The current study aims to validate several novel cognitive tasks expected to be sensitive to brain impairment in specific anatomic regions affected in preclinical Alzheimer's disease(pAD). The tasks are validated in 60 cognitively and clinically normal participants ages 60 - 85, inclusive, against reasonably well-established biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, including 1) simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET) \[18F\]Flutemetamol amyloid and CT imaging and 2) to the extent data is available from other studies, participants' brain MRI and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) amyloid and tau.

Biomarkers, such as amyloid deposition, and Hipp volume loss, and low Aβ and high pTau in CSF, are useful for identifying cognitively normal (CN) elderly who are likely have early AD pathology ("preclinical AD"). However, they are invasive and/or expensive. The goal of the current study is to develop and validate cognitive proxies of AD biomarkers by using cognitive tasks that are dependent on brain regions impaired by very early AD pathology. If successful, these tasks will provide a non-invasive and cost-effective way to identify and track change in CN individuals at high risk for progressing to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia stages of AD and thus will facilitate future prevention trials in pAD. Subjects will attend three study visits. During the first study visit, subjects will have eligibility criteria confirmed, have a blood sample drawn, and complete about half of the cognitive tasks. The second visit, which will occur within one week of visit one, will involve completion of the remaining cognitive tasks. Subjects will also be asked to have a PET-CT scan during visit three (to occur within 3 months of visits 1 and 2).

Conditions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes