Finding the Earliest Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
Optimizing PET spatial extent measures to detect the earliest amyloid-beta and tau accumulation and associated cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease
This project aims to find better ways to detect the very first signs of Alzheimer's disease in the brain, even before memory problems begin.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131255 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are working to improve brain scans (PET scans) to spot tiny changes in proteins called amyloid-beta and tau, which are linked to Alzheimer's. Current methods often miss these early changes, so we're developing new techniques to find them sooner. By identifying these changes earlier, we hope to understand how Alzheimer's develops and potentially intervene before symptoms appear. This could lead to more effective prevention strategies in the future, helping to identify individuals who might benefit most from early interventions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Individuals who are clinically normal but may be at risk for Alzheimer's disease, or those participating in studies like the Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS) or AHEAD 3-45 Study, would be ideal candidates for this type of research.
Not a fit: Patients already diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer's disease dementia may not directly benefit from this specific research focused on preclinical detection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, allowing for interventions to begin sooner and potentially slow or prevent the disease's progression.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of early biomarker detection is established, this project proposes novel, optimized methods for spatial extent measures in PET scans, building on existing research but introducing new techniques.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Farrell, Michelle Elizabeth — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Farrell, Michelle Elizabeth
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.