Actively Recruiting Studies
Our Center supports a wide variety of Alzheimer’s disease-related research. If you are interested in participating in one of our studies, please reach out to our Recruitment Coordinator, Dean Sheppard at sheppard@bu.edu or call us at 561-312-8174
Everything we have learned about memory, memory treatments, and memory disorders is known because someone volunteered for a research study. Thanks to study participants, researchers are making great strides in the early diagnosis of memory disorders and identifying potential new interventions to help treat, delay the onset, and possibly prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
ADNI-4
Summary: The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 4 (ADNI 4) is a multi-center, observational research study focused on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). It aims to understand the disease’s progression, from its earliest stages, by examining the relationships between clinical, cognitive, imaging, genetic, and biomarker data.
Bank-CTE
Summary: BANK CTE is a ground-breaking research study from the Boston University CTE Center that aims to identify plasma biomarkers unique to CTE. The Boston University CTE Center and UNITE Brain Bank want to see if blood can be used to detect CTE. Once CTE can be diagnosed in life, then researchers can explore treatments, and hopefully a cure. More information can be obtained at bankcte.org
Digital Phenotyping
Summary: The purpose of this study is to better understand Alzheimer’s disease and dementia through the use of technology like smartphone applications or wearable devices. The overall goal is to see if these devices can potentially become predictors of Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease and to help individuals become more comfortable with technology as they age
Brain Plasticity in Cognitive Aging
Summary: The main purpose of this study is to better understand the impact of diabetes on cognitive aging by looking at brain plasticity and metabolism. To measure brain plasticity we will use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with electroencephalography (EEG). To measure brain metabolism we will use magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). We will also measure proteins in your blood that may be related to brain health. We will look at how these assessments relate to measurements of your cognition (thinking and memory) and to your brain MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
CBD Study
Summary:This study investigates the use of a medication to treat anxiety and agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease. The study medication is a specially formulated product made with cannabidiol (CBD), the major non-intoxicating agent found in cannabis. The custom-formulated solution was developed by Dr. Staci Gruber, Ph.D., at McLean Hospital. The study is an eight-week open-label clinical trial, meaning every participant will receive the study medication.
Clariti Study
Summary:
The CLARiTI study, or Clarity in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research Through Imaging, is a nationwide study involving 47 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) in the United States. The study’s goal is to gather data on the presence, absence, or change in characteristic disease biomarkers in individuals with dementia or at risk of developing it. This data will be collected through standardized brain imaging and blood plasma testing to analyze the levels and types of amyloid and tau proteins, which are key biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease.
Effects of NR
Summary: NRAD is a 12-week long brain imaging study looking at the effects of Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), a safe, orally available, over-the-counter vitamin B3-supplement often taken for the purposes of cognitive enhancement, on the brain in those with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Specifically, we want to use magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure certain chemicals in the brain, which will help us understand how taking NR affects energy metabolism and cell damage.
Financial Decision Making
Summary: This project aims to refine and expand our understanding of using technology to accurately conceptualize financial decision making (FDM) and awareness of one’s financial abilities (i.e., financial awareness) in cognitively healthy older adults and those clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Based on emerging findings from my previous studies, a novel and exploratory, but compelling, aim is to investigate the association between financial exploitation and, FDM and financial awareness.
HOPE Study
Summary:The HOPE study is a longitudinal research investigation of approximately 400 participants over age 50 who span the cognitive spectrum (normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia). Each year, participants are interviewed, answer questionnaires, undergo neuropsychological testing and physical exam, and have blood drawn. Additional assessments, including brain imaging, lumbar puncture, and engagement with smart technology, occur intermittently. Participants are followed for their entire lives and donate their brains to research after death.