Brain NAD levels in people with Alzheimer's disease

Measurement of Brain NAD Levels in Alzheimer's Patients and Control Subjects by 1H-MRS

This study will try to see if people aged 65–80 with Alzheimer's have lower brain NAD than age-matched people without Alzheimer's by measuring NAD with two MRI-based scans eight months apart.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Ages: 65 Years to 80 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Florida Atlantic University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Boca Raton, Florida)
• Trial ID: NCT07127510 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is an observational study using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in the brains of participants with and without Alzheimer's disease. Participants will have an initial brain imaging session to quantify NAD and a repeat imaging session eight months later to compare within-person changes and group differences. Alzheimer cases must have a physician diagnosis plus positive amyloid evidence by PET or an FDA-approved CSF or blood test, while control participants must have a MoCA score of 26 or higher. Common exclusions include MRI-incompatible hardware, history of seizures, recent cancer, night-shift work, advanced dementia requiring sedation, or current anti-amyloid IV treatment (Leqembi or Kinsula).

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are ambulatory, verbal adults aged 65–80 who either have a physician-confirmed Alzheimer's diagnosis with positive amyloid testing or are cognitively normal peers with MoCA ≥26 and able to undergo MRI.

Not a fit: People outside the 65–80 age range, those with advanced dementia requiring sedation, MRI-incompatible implants, a history of seizures, recent cancer, night-shift workers, or control participants with MoCA <26 are unlikely to be included or to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify brain NAD as a useful biomarker to help detect or track Alzheimer's disease and guide future research or treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Some preliminary research links NAD metabolism to brain aging and neurodegeneration, but measuring brain NAD by MRS in Alzheimer's is relatively novel and not yet widely validated.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants are able to come to the Florida Atlantic University Clinical Research Unit, are verbal and ambulatory.
* Age 65 to 80 included.
* People with Alzheimer's disease (AD): AD diagnosis established by the person's physician according to the following criteria: clinical diagnosis AND either positive amyloid PET-scan or FDA-approved positive CSF or blood test.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Under the age of 65 or over the age of 80.
* Advanced dementia such that the person would require sedation for undergoing an MRI scan.
* Receiving anti-amyloid intravenous treatments Leqembi or Kinsula.
* Having an MRI-incompatible pacemaker or other MRI-incompatible hardware (e.g. comprising a metallic part).
* Having a history of seizures.
* Working at night.
* Having cancer or having been diagnosed with cancer within the last 5 years (excluding superficial squameous or basal cell cancer).
* People with no AD: MoCA test result lower than 26.

Where this trial is running

Boca Raton, Florida

• FAU Clinical Research Unit — Boca Raton, Florida, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Corinne Lasmezas, PhD — Florida Atlantic University
• Study coordinator: FAU Clinical Research Unit Central Contact

Conditions Alzheimer Disease; NAD