Comparison of PET Amyloid Imaging in Japanese and Western Subjects
Mild Cognitive ImpairmentAlzheimer's Disease1 moreThis was a Phase 2, multicenter study to assess the extent and patterns of [18F] flutemetamol uptake in the brains of 3 groups of Japanese subjects: healthy volunteers (HV), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and probable Alzheimer's disease (pAD), and to assess the reproducibility of brain uptake and of image interpretation. Subjects underwent open-label intravenous (i.v.) administration of Flutemetamol F 18 Injection and Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the brain. Blinded visual image reads were performed by 10 independent board-certified readers (5 Japanese and 5 non-Japanese) with nuclear medicine image interpretation experience. The blinded visual assessments were compared with the subject's clinical diagnoses, and the agreement between the image interpretations made by the 2 groups of readers (Japanese and non-Japanese) was determined.
A Phase II Trial of Florbetapir (18F) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging in Japan of Healthy...
Alzheimer's DiseaseMild Cognitive ImpairmentEvaluate florbetapir (18F) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for distinguishing Japanese healthy control subjects, from Japanese subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Neuroelectrical Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease Stages
Alzheimer DiseaseRecent diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) recognize an extended spectrum of AD stages as part of the disease, including a preclinical stage. This underscores the importance of early prognosis of AD when it is still possible to influence the course of the disorder. The investigators propose a comprehensive project which will target the data-driven modeling of the disease development. This goal will be achieved by creating and validating a battery of new sensitive biomarkers for clinical evaluation and prediction of AD in individuals. The AD-related brain changes will be assessed by noninvasive functional EEG measured during an episodic memory task in subjects at different stages of AD, as well as in healthy controls. The novel functional biomarkers will be extracted using a rigorous multistage selection procedure involving advanced methods for feature extraction, as well as statistics and classification for optimal selection. The ESTIMATE project will serve as a first step in an extensive array of research procedures which will enable the early clinical identification of Alzheimer's disease in elderly individuals who could then take advantage of preventive pharmaceutical therapies.
Benefits of Exercise in Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's DiseaseExercise has been shown to be beneficial for the brain. The investigators would like to test this specifically for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This study will involve 30 randomized patients to take part in the out-patient exercise program and 30 patients to continue with their regular activities over a 6-month period. Once that period is over, half of the 30 patients who participated in the outpatient exercise program will continue in the program and the other half will be randomized to independently continue to exercise. The investigators hypothesize that exercising will benefit the patient by slowing the dementia process, improving behavioral symptoms, and decreasing volume loss of certain brain regions. Each person will perform personalized exercise regimens, MR imaging and neuropsychological tests will be used to measure the benefits of exercise. Ultimately, the hope is that the results of this study could be used to facilitate exercise programs for patients. Enrollment is completely voluntary and all personal data obtained will remain confidential.
Amyloid Beta-peptide 1-40 and Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer DiseaseThe combined measurement of Ab42 and tau protein (total and phosphorylated) in the spinal fluid has been shown to be promising in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and has justified its inclusion new diagnostic criteria. However, it can sometimes yield discordant results that are not discriminant (isolated variation in Ab42 or P-181 Tau). To answer this challenge, a new marker has been developed in recent years, namely amyloid beta-peptide 1-40 (Aβ40). This marker reflects the patient's total amyloid deposits and is used to calculate the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio. This ratio measures the relative variation of Aβ42 as compared to the total amyloid burden. Literature data on this topic are sparse and to date, no report has been published evaluating the utility of this marker in the diagnostic strategy for AD.
The Use of EEG in Alzheimer's Disease, With and Without Scopolamine - A Pilot Study
ADThe objective of this study is to compare the electroencephalography (EEG) responses of three distinct groups of individuals to scopolamine: 1) a group of Alzheimer Dementia (AD) patients, 2) a group of individuals suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and 3) a group of controls. The main purpose of this comparison is to discover ways to use these responses to distinguish between the group of AD patients and controls in order to develop a diagnostic tool for AD. The purpose of including the MCI group is to investigate whether this diagnostic tool can predict which member of the MCI group will develop AD later in life.
Sound Estimation and Accuracy Task
Parkinson'sAlzheimer DiseaseParticipants will be assigned to complete computerized estimation tasks for which there is a component of accuracy, such as estimating the duration of sounds. Participants will be told that the task is used as an early diagnostic tool to detect those at risk for a medical condition (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease). Instructions will be given to participants telling them that accuracy on the task is associated with the disease, whereas those who are not at risk of the disease tend to either overestimate or underestimate the duration of the sounds. The investigators examine whether such instructions about the purpose and diagnosticity of the tasks biases participants' responses to the tasks, leading them to purposefully be more inaccurate in their estimates.
A Study to Assess Regional Cerebral Blood Flow as an Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker Compared to Positron...
Alzheimer's DiseaseThe aim of the study is to determine if regional cerebral blood flow, measured by dynamic arterial spin labeling (dASL), can be a biomarker for stage of Alzheimer's disease. The study is designed to be conducted in 2 parts in participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, and participants with normal cognition. Various imaging studies will be done using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) along with neurocognitive assessments. Participants who meet the study-entry criteria will have up to 8 study visits. Repeat imaging studies may be required if the initial data are incomplete or un-interpretable. The maximum number of PET scans during the study will be limited to four.
Blood Gene Expression Signature in Patients Diagnosed With Probable Alzheimer's Disease Compared...
Alzheimer's DiseaseDementiaThe objective of the study is to define the performance of blood-based signatures for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in different patients populations including AD, non-AD dementia, and non-demented controls.
Evaluation of Physician Training Methods to Read Florbetapir-PET Scans
Alzheimer's DiseaseThe purpose of this study is re-read of brain amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans acquired in previous florbetapir F 18 clinical studies by readers trained using updated reading methodology. The scans in this study came from subjects who had an autopsy to reveal the subject's true amyloid status.