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This is the primary research study of our Center. Data
gathered from this longitudinal study has helped us learn about the clinical development and pathology of the disease. It has also helped us learn to discriminate among the various kinds of dementia, such as Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body disease, and Pick’s disease (Frontal-Temporal dementia). We are currently studying
pre-clinical and the very earliest stages of the disease. We must also study normal age matched
individuals who are "control" subjects to learn how the brain ages in unaffected persons. Research studies must be done in a controlled manner such as this to have the reference points necessary to reach valid conclusions.
Cost: There is no financial cost to participate in our longitudinal research study.
The only cost to you is in travel, time and effort involved
in an annual evaluation. You may withdraw at any time. We would, however, like a commitment of a minimum of five years, in order to gather the optimal longitudinal data.
Benefit: Two major
benefits are in having access to a staff who evaluate
your condition and 1) will inform you of the results of this
evaluation and, 2) make suggestions and referrals for coping
with problems that you may have.
Annual Exam: Persons in the Longitudinal Study are seen once a year in our clinic for a very thorough evaluation. To participate in our research program, you must have an
study partner, either a spouse, family member, or someone who can comment on your daily activities and help reinforce the long-term commitment to our program.
We also request that you agree to a brain autopsy. This is critical to our research,
since the pathological confirmation is the only definitive diagnosis for the disease. It also provides tissue for critical studies in the pathophysiology of the disease.
"The annual exam" takes approximately one and one-half days and consists of three parts: a nursing exam, a neuropsychological assessment, and a neurology exam.
Normal controls who participate in our research study have the option of a
shorter version of the evaluation, which takes only 3-4 hours.
The Nursing Exam
Neuropsychological Evaluation
Neurology Exam
-
Cognitive assessment
-
Physical assessment of cranial nerves, vision, hearing, and speech.
-
Tests for coordination and motor function
-
Evaluation of movement disorders, reflexes, posture and gait.
Memory in Aging Program
MAP is a focused arm
of UCSD’s Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Center. Its primary goal is to identify seniors in
the community who have Mild Cognitive Impairment
(MCI), a pattern of memory decline that worse than
would be expected on the basis of aging alone, and
that may predict the development of future
dementia. We wish to invite such individuals to get
involved in important ongoing research examining
this kind of cognitive change.
MAP
Brochure.pdf
Clinical Trial Registry:
Are you interested in clinical trials
but don't find one that suits you? You can now join our ADRC
Registry to be placed on a list for future studies.
Participants can be normal controls, have a slight memory problem, or be diagnosed with
early to
moderate AD. Call the ADRC 858-622-5800 and ask
for Roulla Drego or email Roulla at
mailto:kralston@ucsd.edu and
she
will mail you a brief questionnaire to fill out.
We are currently enrolling in the
following clinical trials:
Clinical Trials Centerspread Fall 06.pdf
This study
is sponsored by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals to find
out more about the safety, tolerability and
effectiveness of an experimental drug, Lecozotan,
in patients with mild to moderate ad. This
drug is considered experimental because it has
not been approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)
We are seeking
participants who:
There will
be no payment for participation in this study;
however, all tests, examinations, and medical
care required as part of this study will be
provided. Please contact
Karen Wetzel, MPAS, PA-C at (858) 622-5800 for
further information and ask for the “SRA-333”.
Study Director: Jody Corey-Bloom, M.D.
This study is to
find out more about the safety, tolerability and
effectiveness of an experimental drug, AAB-001, in
individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's
disease (AD).
Current
treatment with Vitamin E, cholinesterase inhibitors
(Aricept®,
Reminyl®,
Excelon®,
and/or
Namenda®
are allowed. Participants will continue their
current treatment and will be randomly
assigned (that is, by chance) to receive one of
three possible doses of the experimental drug
(AAB-001) or placebo (a sugar pill no active study
drug. AAB-001 is given by intravenous
"infusion" and cannot be taken by mouth.
There will
be no payment for participation in this study;
however, all tests, examinations, and medical
care required as part of this study will be
provided. Please contact
Karen Wetzel, MPAS, PA-C at (858) 622-5800 for
further information and ask for the “Elan
AAB-001-201”.
Study Director: Jody Corey-Bloom, M.D.
This study
seeks to determine
whether Huperzine A is beneficial in the treatment
of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s
disease. Huperzine A is a natural cholinesterase
inhibitor, derived from the Chinese herb huperzia
serrata and is used in China to treat AD. In
this country, Huperzine A is available in
health food stores as a nutritional supplement and
is being used by some U.S. clinicians to treat AD.
Individuals 55 years of age and older who are not
currently taking cholinesterase inhibitors and have
mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (MMSE 10-24)
are eligible for screening. Treatment with memantine
(Namenda®) and vitamin E is allowed.
Two-thirds of participants will
be randomly assigned to receive Huperzine A
throughout the study; one-third will receive placebo
for first 16 weeks, followed by Huperzine A for 8
weeks. An open-extension study providing
Huperzine A to all participants for at least 6
months is anticipated.
There will be no payment for
participation in this study; however, all tests,
examinations, and medical care required as part of
this study will be provided. The study is
sponsored by Georgetown University, through a grant
from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and Marco
Hi-Tech. Please
contact
Karen Wetzel, MPAS, PA-C at (858) 622-5800 for further information and ask
for the “Huperzine A”.
Study Director: Jody Corey-Bloom, M.D.
This study will
assess the safety, tolerability, and effects related
to oxidative damage on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
biomarkers of two antioxidant treatment regiments in
patients with mild to moderate AD.
We are seeking
participants who:
-
Have a
diagnosis of probable AD (NINCDS-ADRDA criteria)
-
Have MMSE score >
14/30
-
Have no
contraindications to lumbar puncture
-
Are medically
stable, with no clinically significant
abnormalities of hepatic, renal or hematologic
function.
This study will
last 4 months; it includes two lumbar punctures
(spinal taps), three clinic visits and six telephone
interviews. Participants will receive $400 upon
study completion ($200 per lumbar puncture).
Please contact Mary Margaret
Pay, RN, CNP at (858) 622-5800 for further information and ask
for the "Antioxidant Study”.
Study Director: Douglas Galasko M.D.
The Alzheimer’s Disease
Cooperative Study (ADCS) is conducting a research study to
find out whether daily administration of valproate not only
delays the time until such behavioral symptoms as
agitation or psychosis emerge, but also slows the
expected cognitive and functional decline of AD.
This is a randomized, placebo
controlled, double-blind trial of outpatients 55 or
older with AD (MMSE 10-25 inclusive) who lack
agitation and psychosis and do not require treatment
with psychotropic medications. Participants
will be randomly assigned to receive valproate or
placebo (an inactive substance). Treatment with Aricept, Reminyl,
Excelon, and Namenda and/or Vitamin E is allowed.
There will be no payment for
participation in this study; however, all tests,
examinations, and medical care required as part of
this study will be provided at no cost. Please contact
Karen Wetzel, MPAS, PA-C at (858) 622-5800 for further information and ask
for the "Valproate”.
Study Director: Jody Corey-Bloom, M.D.
We are currently looking for participants for a group
of CSF studies, some of which involve using CSF to
monitor a response to new experimental therapy and
others involve looking for novel diagnostic markers
for AD. Both normal controls and early to
moderate AD participants are needed. These studies
all involve lumbar puncture for the withdrawal of
cerebrospinal fluid. Monetary compensation is
available.
Please
contact Helen Vanderswag, RN at (858) 622-5800 for
further information and ask for the “CSF study”. Study Director: Douglas Galasko, M.D.
-
Biomarkers in Aging, MCI, and
Alzheimer's Disease - Helen Vanderswag
mailto:hvanderswag@ucsd.edu
This study will measure levels of
a number of different proteins in cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) and in blood in order to compare these
biomarker levels amongst people who have normal
cognitive ability, mild memory problems, or early
Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
We are looking for male and
female volunteers:
Study
candidates should be in general good health and
without major lower back problems. The study
will last 5 years, with a 2-day visit per year.
Participation involves a lumbar puncture and blood
work.
Participants
will receive up to $200 compensation per year of the
study for under going the lumbar punctures. Please contact
Helen
Vanderswag, RN at (858) 622-5800 for
further information and ask for the “Biomarkers study”. Study Director: Douglas Galasko, M.D.
This study will examine whether
imaging of the brain (through MRI and PET scans) every 6
months can help predict and monitor the onset and
progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In
addition to neuroimaging, participants will undergo
memory testing and assessment of functional status.
Furthermore this study will collect and test blood and,
for some participants, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to
determine if biomarkers can predict and monitor the
disease process.
We are seeking
participants who:
-
Age 55 and 90
year old
-
Are in good
general health with no memory problems.
-
Have a
diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
-
Have a
diagnosis of early AD.
Participants
will receive up to $100 compensation per visit
session and up to an additional $200 for undergoing
the lumbar puncture. Please contact
Helen
Vanderswag, RNC or Deborah Fontaine, GNP at (858) 622-5800 for
further information and ask for the “ADNI study”. Study
Director: Adam Fleisher, M.D.
-
Semantic memory in AD - David Salmon
-
Biomarkers for AD found in Cerebrospinal Fluid - Douglas Galasko, M.D.
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