Investigating tau protein imaging in Alzheimer's and frontotemporal degeneration

Flortaucipir PET and histopathology in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease

NIH-funded research Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11061237

This study is looking at a special brain scan to see how a protein linked to Alzheimer's and frontotemporal lobar degeneration behaves, hoping to improve how we diagnose these conditions for patients like you.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Rochester, United States)
Project IDNIH-11061237 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on using a specialized imaging technique called flortaucipir PET to detect tau protein abnormalities in patients with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). By analyzing brain scans and correlating them with post-mortem tissue samples, the study aims to understand how tau pathology manifests in these conditions. The researchers are particularly interested in the relationship between tau imaging results and the underlying brain pathology, which could lead to better diagnostic methods for these neurodegenerative diseases.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

Not a fit: Patients with other types of dementia or neurodegenerative diseases unrelated to tau pathology may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could improve diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's and FTLD, leading to more effective treatment strategies.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using tau PET imaging have shown promising results in detecting tau pathology in Alzheimer's, but this specific approach in FTLD is novel and largely untested.

Where this research is happening

Rochester, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementia
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.