Tracking brain imaging changes over time in people at risk for Alzheimer's
The Longitudinal Course of Imaging Biomarkers in People At Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · NIH-11302657
This project tracks brain scans and fluid markers over time in middle-aged adults with a family history of Alzheimer's to spot early changes linked to memory loss.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (MADISON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11302657 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would join a long-term study of middle-aged adults who are at higher risk for Alzheimer's because a parent had dementia. Researchers perform repeated amyloid and tau PET scans, advanced MRI including 4D flow to measure blood-vessel health, plus spinal-fluid and blood tests over many years. The team uses computational methods to estimate when amyloid buildup began and how its duration relates to thinking and memory changes. Together these measurements aim to explain why some people with early Alzheimer's markers go on to decline while others remain stable.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are non-demented, middle-aged adults—especially those with a parent diagnosed with Alzheimer's—who can travel to Madison, WI and are willing to undergo imaging, blood draws, and possible spinal-fluid collection.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, those unwilling to undergo repeated imaging or invasive sample collection, or those unable to travel to the study site are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect Alzheimer's-related changes much earlier and improve predictions of who will develop cognitive decline, enabling earlier prevention or treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Other long-term cohorts have shown amyloid and tau PET predict cognitive decline, but combining timing estimates of amyloid onset with 4D flow MRI and longitudinal plasma/CSF markers is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
MADISON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON — MADISON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JOHNSON, STERLING C — UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- Study coordinator: JOHNSON, STERLING C
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.