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Imaging Tau in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Aging

Imaging Tau in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Aging

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02884492
Enrollment
17
Registered
2016-08-31
Start date
2016-07-31
Completion date
2017-06-30
Last updated
2018-11-19

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

Conditions

Alzheimer's Disease

Keywords

inflammation, aging, mild cognitive impairment

Brief summary

This study is being done to learn about tau tangles in Alzheimer's disease. A type of PET scan is used to measure the abnormal accumulation of protein called tau in the brain. These are thought to be involved in Alzheimer's disease. The investigators will also perform brain MRI and to tests to measure the participant's memory and thinking.

Detailed description

This study is being done to determine the relationship between tau tangles and cognitive impairment in elderly subjects with different clinical and biomarker profiles of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Subjects will undergo screen that includes neuropsychological testing and brain MRI. This study uses a special type of scan called a PET scan to take pictures of the brain. During the PET scan, a special radioactive dye called 18F-THK-5351 is injected into the body. 18F-THK-5351 sticks to abnormal tangles made of the protein tau. Subjects will have the option to have lumbar puncture performed to measure CSF concentrations of biomarkers.

Interventions

18F-THK-5351 is a PET radioligand that binds abnormal tangles made of the protein tau. These tau tangles develop in the brain in people with Alzheimer's disease.

Subjects have the option to have lumbar puncture performed for the measurement of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid.

Sponsors

National Institute on Aging (NIA)
CollaboratorNIH
William Charles Kreisl
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 50 and older. 2. Meet criteria for either a) amnestic mild cognitive impairment (single or mixed domain) or mild Alzheimer's disease, or b) have no cognitive impairment, based on history, exam, neuropsychological testing, and consensus diagnosis. MCI and mild AD patients must have Clinical Dementia Rating scale score of 0.5 or 1. Unimpaired subjects must have Clinical Dementia Rating scale score of 0. 3. Subjects unable to provide informed consent must have a surrogate decision maker. 4. Written and oral fluency in English or Spanish. 5. Able to participate in all scheduled evaluations and to complete all required tests and procedures. 6. In the opinion of the investigator, the subject must be considered likely to comply with the study protocol and to have a high probability of completing the study.

Exclusion criteria

1. Past or present history of certain brain disorders other than MCI or AD. 2. Certain significant medical conditions, which make study procedures of the current study unsafe. Such serious medical conditions include uncontrolled epilepsy and multiple serious injuries. 3. Contraindication to MRI scanning. 4. Conditions precluding entry into the scanners (e.g. morbid obesity, claustrophobia, etc.). 5. History of kidney disease or presence of impaired kidney function based on laboratory tests at the screening visit. 6. History of liver disease or presence of impaired liver function based on laboratory tests at the screening visit. 7. Participation in the last year in a clinical trial for a disease-modifying drug for AD. 8. Inability to have a catheter in subject's vein for the injection of radioligand. 9. Inability to have blood drawn from subject's veins.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
18F-THK-5351 Standardized Uptake Value RatioPET image data collected 50 min post-injection to 70 min post-injection of 18F-THK-5351The standardize uptake value ratio is the concentration of radioactivity measured from the 18F-THK-5351 PET scan in the posterior cingulate gyrus, divided by that in the cerebellar gray matter (the reference region, which is expected to be devoid of tau pathology). This ratio is a relative measure of 18F-THK-5351 binding, and therefore of tau pathology, in brain tissue. PET image data was acquired from 50 min post-injection to 70 min post-injection of 18F-THK-5351.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Cognitive Impairment
Adults with Alzheimer's disease, preclinical Alzheimer's disease or impairment due to suspected non-Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology will receive 18F-THK- 5351 and/or lumbar puncture (optional). 18F-THK-5351: 18F-THK-5351 is a PET radioligand that binds abnormal tangles made of the protein tau. These tau tangles develop in the brain in people with Alzheimer's disease. Lumbar Puncture (optional): Subjects have the option to have lumbar puncture performed for the measurement of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid.
7
No Cognitive Impairment
Normal aging adults will receive 18F-THK- 5351 and/or lumbar puncture (optional). 18F-THK-5351: 18F-THK-5351 is a PET radioligand that binds abnormal tangles made of the protein tau. These tau tangles develop in the brain in people with Alzheimer's disease. Lumbar Puncture (optional): Subjects have the option to have lumbar puncture performed for the measurement of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid.
10
Total17

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicCognitive ImpairmentNo Cognitive ImpairmentTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
6 Participants7 Participants13 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
1 Participants3 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants4 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
7 Participants6 Participants13 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
7 participants10 participants17 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
2 Participants7 Participants9 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants3 Participants8 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 70 / 10
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 70 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 70 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

18F-THK-5351 Standardized Uptake Value Ratio

The standardize uptake value ratio is the concentration of radioactivity measured from the 18F-THK-5351 PET scan in the posterior cingulate gyrus, divided by that in the cerebellar gray matter (the reference region, which is expected to be devoid of tau pathology). This ratio is a relative measure of 18F-THK-5351 binding, and therefore of tau pathology, in brain tissue. PET image data was acquired from 50 min post-injection to 70 min post-injection of 18F-THK-5351.

Time frame: PET image data collected 50 min post-injection to 70 min post-injection of 18F-THK-5351

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Cognitive Impairment18F-THK-5351 Standardized Uptake Value Ratio1.78 Standardized uptake value ratio
No Cognitive Impairment18F-THK-5351 Standardized Uptake Value Ratio1.44 Standardized uptake value ratio

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026