Clinical Research Studies

Are you eligible to participate in this study?

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

• Conditions:
  Alzheimer's Disease
• Age: Between 55 Year(s) - 85 Year(s)
• Gender: Male or Female

• Other Inclusion Criteria:
  

  1. Male and female subjects with normal cognition and ages 55 to 85.
  2. Within normal limits on neurological and psychiatric examinations.
  3. An informed family member or life-partner (preferably bed-partner) will be interviewed to confirm the reliability of the subject interview.
  4. Self-identified as Black/African-American.

  
  

You may not be eligible for this study if the following are true:

• 1. History of brain tumor, MRI evidence of brain damage or brain disease including significant trauma, hydrocephalus, seizures, mental retardation or other serious neurological disorder (e.g. Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders). Subjects with a Fazekas scale >2 will be excluded.
  2. Significant history of alcoholism or drug abuse within the last 5 years. Recovered alcoholic or drug addiction that is sober for at least 5 years is eligible.
  3. History of psychiatric illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar or PTSD).
  4. Lifelong depression and anxiety will be allowed as long as there has been no active depressive episode within the last two years.
  5. Insulin dependent diabetes.
  6. Evidence of clinically relevant cardiac, pulmonary, endocrine or hematological conditions.
  7. Physical impairment of such severity as to adversely affect the validity of psychological testing.
  8. Any prosthetic devices (e.g., pacemaker or surgical clips) that constitutes a hazard for MRI imaging.
  9. Medications affecting cognition or SWS:
  • Narcotic analgesics.
  • Chronic use of medications with anticholinergic activity.
  • Anti-Parkinsonian medications (carbidopa/levodopa, amantadine, bromocriptine, pergolide, selegiline).
  • Others: amphetamines, amphetamine-like compounds, appetite suppressants, phenothiazines, reserpine, buspirone, clonidine, disulfiram, guanethidine, MAO inhibitors, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, pregabalin, trazodone, salicylates, cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine.
  • Note: chronic use of antidepressants are allowed.
  10. History of a first-degree family member with early onset (age <60 years) dementia.
  11. Irregular sleep-wake rhythms (based on the actigraphy recordings), short sleepers (< 5 hours a day) and long sleepers (> 9 hours a day).
  12. Individuals who suffer from claustrophobia.
  13. Individuals with MRI-incompatible implants and other contraindications for MRI, such as pacemaker, artificial joints, non-removable body piercings, tattoos larger than 1 cm in diameter, etc.
  14. Individuals who have received a diagnostic or therapeutic radiopharmaceutical within 7 days prior to participation in this study.
  15. Participation in other research studies involving ionizing radiation within one year of the PET scans that would causes the subject to exceed the yearly dose limits for normal volunteers.
  16. Individuals with history of I.V. drug use which would prevent venous access for PET tracer injection.
  17. Severe motor problems that prevent the participant from lying still for PET and MR imaging.
  18. History of fainting from needle stick.