Deep and Frequent Phenotyping; Combinatorial Biomarkers for Dementia Experimental Medicine

Research summary

Changes in the brain may precede symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia by many years if not decades. Such changes indicate that a very early Alzheimer’s disease process has started well before people start developing the typical symptoms of dementia such as memory loss – this is known as pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals who are beginning to experience impaired memory as a consequence of this disease process, yet are functionally independent and not showing signs of dementia, are in a prodromal Alzheimer’s disease phase. With current knowledge, it is only possible to diagnose people who already have dementia, or who are very close to developing dementia. This is an NIHR and MRC-funded 12 month observational study in individuals showing signs of pre-clinical or prodromal Alzheimer’s disease and controls, in a ratio of 4:1. Participants will undergo a range of tests to assess the utility of many different potential measures of change, known as biomarkers, of Alzheimer’s disease. Biomarkers that can identify and track the progression of the disease in the earliest pre-clinical and prodromal stages will enable clinical drug trials to target this phase, when the potential for disease modification and benefit to patients is likely to be significantly increased. Identifying short term and more precise markers of change will allow clinical trials to determine efficacy of therapeutics faster and more efficiently, greatly improving the process of Alzheimer’s drug research. Biomarker investigations will include brain imaging, tests of eye and brain function, blood and spinal fluids (CSF), wearable technology, and eye imaging. Following a screening period to determine pre-clinical or prodromal Alzheimer’s pathology using PET imaging, participants will attend 7 assessment episodes over 12 months, two of which will be over at least two days.

Principal Investigator

Prof Peter Issa

Contact us

Email: ERGO@ouh.nhs.uk

IRAS number

215831