Predictors of Cognitive Decline in Normal Aging

Status

UNKNOWN

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00094939

Enrollment

170

Registered

2004-10-29

Start date

2003-09-30

Completion date

2008-08-31

Last updated

2009-12-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease, Dementia

Keywords

mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, magnetic resonance imaging, CSF tau protein, Hippocampus

Brief summary

The goal of this project is to develop an early diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease (AD) by monitoring loss of neurons and brain size reductions over a period of five years.

Detailed description

Studies of normal aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) show that loss of neurons and reduction in size of the hippocampal part of the brain predict a person's conversion from MCI to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Increases in tangle-related abnormal tau proteins, specifically P-tau231, also appear to be related. This study will collect neuropsychological data, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from volunteer participants to measure the relationship between changes in brain volume, CSF levels, and memory performance. From the data researchers hope to develop an early diagnostic test for AD. The study will include 170 participants between the ages of 60 and 80 years, some normal, some with MCI, some with mild AD, and some with frontotemporal dementia. After initial screening of volunteers, the researchers will give participants a complete baseline exam and 24-month follow-up exams over a period of five years.

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

60 Years to 80 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Males and females, from all racial and ethnic categories between the ages of 60-80 years of age, with English as their first language. * Residents of the New York City metropolitan area. * Minimum of 12 years of education. * Participants will be grouped according to the following classifications: normal aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), or frontotemporal dementia (FTD). * Participants will agree to ApoE genotyping and DNA banking.

Exclusion criteria

* Past history or MRI evidence of brain damage including significant trauma, stroke, hydrocephalus, lacunar infarcts, seizures, mental retardation or serious neurological disorder. * Significant history of alcoholism or drug abuse. * History of psychiatric illness (e.g., schizophrenia, mania or depression). * Any focal signs or significant neuropathology. * A score of 4 or greater on the Modified Hachinski Ischemia Scale suggesting cerebrovascular disease. * A total score of 16 or more on the Hamilton Depression Scale to exclude possible cases of primary depression. * Evidence of clinically relevant and uncontrolled hypertensive, cardiac, pulmonary, vascular, metabolic or hematologic conditions. * Physical impairment of such severity as to adversely affect the validity of psychological testing. * Hostility or refusal to cooperate. * Any prosthetic devices (e.g., pacemaker or surgical clips) that could be affected by the magnetic field employed during MRI imaging. * History of familial early onset dementia.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactKenneth E. Rich

kenneth.rich@med.nyu.edu212-263-7563

Outcome results