Early brain scan signs of Lewy body dementia
Longitudinal Imaging Biomarkers of Prodromal DLB
Using brain scans and sleep testing to find early biological signs in people with mild cognitive impairment who show features of Lewy body dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169985 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have mild cognitive problems plus core features of Lewy body dementia, the project will give you brain scans (PET, SPECT, MRI) and an overnight polysomnogram to look for early changes. Researchers will compare these results with people without cognitive problems and follow participants over time to see which measures change as symptoms progress. They will also examine how age, sex, APOE ε4 status, and small-vessel brain changes influence those imaging and sleep findings. The goal is to build a set of biomarkers that can help select and track people for future protein-targeting treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with mild cognitive impairment who have core clinical features of prodromal Lewy body dementia (for example visual hallucinations, REM sleep behavior disorder, parkinsonism, or cognitive fluctuations) are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People whose cognitive problems are due to non-Lewy causes, those with advanced dementia, or those unable to undergo PET/MRI or overnight sleep studies may not benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these biomarkers could help diagnose Lewy body dementia earlier, match patients to targeted therapies, and monitor treatment effects.
How similar studies have performed: Previous imaging studies have identified markers in established DLB and the project's earlier phase produced promising biomarkers, but combining PET, SPECT, MRI and sleep studies over time in prodromal DLB is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kantarci, Kejal — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Kantarci, Kejal
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.