Brain synapse changes in early and later Lewy body dementia
Mapping Synaptic Density in Prodromal and Manifest Lewy Body Dementia
Using a new PET scan that images a synaptic protein together with MRI, researchers will measure synapse loss in people from healthy older adults to those with early (prodromal) and diagnosed Lewy body dementia to see if early synapse loss predicts thinking and memory decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11197605 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would have an SV2A PET scan together with structural and diffusion MRI to measure synaptic density, brain volume, and white-matter microstructure. The team will enroll people across the spectrum from healthy aging through prodromal LBD to manifest LBD and will carefully characterize your cognitive status and symptoms. They will compare where and when synapse loss appears relative to other brain changes and track whether those imaging findings link to declines in thinking or memory. Imaging and follow-up visits are done at the University of Wisconsin–Madison imaging center and may include additional clinical tests or questionnaires.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include older adults who are healthy, those with early/prodromal symptoms suggestive of Lewy body dementia, and people with a clinical diagnosis of Lewy body dementia who can travel to Madison for imaging.
Not a fit: People who have other primary causes of cognitive impairment without Lewy body features, who cannot undergo PET/MRI (for example due to incompatible implants or pregnancy), or who cannot travel to the study site are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier detection of Lewy body dementia by showing synapse loss before other brain changes, helping identify people for earlier care or clinical trials.
How similar studies have performed: SV2A PET has recently enabled in vivo measurement of synaptic density and early research shows promise, but combining SV2A PET with diffusion and structural MRI specifically to map prodromal LBD progression is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gallagher, Catherine L. — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Gallagher, Catherine L.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.