Currently Enrolling Alzheimer’s Disease Studies

KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center Clinical Cohort

A National Institute of Health (NIH) grant funded study to develop and maintain a well characterized group of individual to support further research on memory and aging.

Type of Study: Observational (no treatment)

Who: Individuals with memory loss of any age and individuals without memory loss 65 and older

Procedures: Clinical memory assessment, pen and paper test, blood draw

Duration: up to 3 visits annually

Compensation: No

Relationship of Energetics and Cognitive Trajectory (REACT)

A study to characterize the relationship between metabolic hormone secretion, energy production, and memory.

Type of Study: Observational (no treatment)

Who: Clinical Cohort participants with and without memory loss, age 60 and older

Procedures: Mixed meal tolerance test, blood draws, MRI

Duration: 2 visits

Compensation: Yes

Cerebrovascular Markers for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis (BB8-AD)

A long-term study looking at how vascular health (your heart and blood vessels) may affect memory and brain health. Participants must be enrolled in the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center Clinical Cohort study.

Type of Study: Observational (no treatment)

Who: Clinical Cohort participants with and without memory loss, age 55-85 years old

Procedures: MRI and PET brain imaging, and vascular measures (ultrasound, blood pressure, artery stiffness)

Duration: Baseline visit and 3 annual follow up visits (not including Clinical Cohort visits)

Compensation: Yes

Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 3 (ADNI 3)

A public/private collaboration between academia and industry to study biomarkers and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Type of Study: Observational (no treatment)

Who: Individuals with normal cognition ages 65-90 and individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment or mild Alzheimer’s disease ages 55-90

Procedures: Participants will undergo longitudinal clinical and cognitive assessments, computerized cognitive batteries, biomarker and genetic tests, PET (FDG, amyloid and tau) and MRI scans and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection

Duration: Up to five years, with annual visits

Compensation: Yes

Acute Exercise Response On Brain Imaging and Cognition (AEROBIC)

A study to test how the brain uses glucose after a single bout of aerobic exercise in older adults and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Type of Study: Short term observational

Who: Adults over 60 years old. Both normal cognition, and mild memory complaints

Procedures: Pen and paper tests, questionnaires, blood draws, fitness tests, PET scans, a single bout of aerobic exercise, blood draws, MRI

Duration: 4-5 week, 4 visits

Compensation: Yes, $200

Dementia Risk and Dynamic Response to Exercise (DYNAMIC)

A study about how brain blood flow responds to a single bout of exercise.

Type of Study: Exercise/Observational

Who: Exercise/Observational

Procedures: MRI, blood collection, pen and paper tests, 15 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise

Duration: 1 visit of 2-3 hours

Compensation: Yes

Guided Episodic Thinking to increase Physical Activity in Aging (GETActive)

A study to examine the influence of episodic future thinking on regulation and reward in older adults who are at a prime age to intervene with physical activity to promote brain health and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Type of Study: Behavioral Intervention

Who: Underactive individuals with normal cognition, ages 60-85

Questionnaires and surveys, guided imagery, moderate exercise bout, MRI scan

Duration: 3 visits

Compensation: Yes

Lifestyle Empowerment for Alzheimer’s Prevention (LEAP! Rx)

LEAP! Rx is a comprehensive program bringing the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center and the YMCA together to help you change your life and adopt a brain-healthy lifestyle. LEAP! Rx includes lifestyle education, gym membership and personal trainer to guide you through the program.

Type of Study: Supported exercise and educational program geared toward lifestyle change for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

Who: Underactive adults 65+ years of age who are interested in lifestyle change.

Procedures: memory and thinking tests, questionnaires, blood draws, fitness tests, ECG, DEXA

Procedures: 3 overnight polysomnography visits, 3 cognitive assessment visits, 6 intervention sessions, monthly phone call for 1 year, 2 optional PET/MRI scans

Duration: 1 year of exercise and monthly education

Compensation: 1 year of YMCA membership, personal training and education

Sleep Intervention to Enhance Cognitive Status & Reduce Beta Amyloid (SIESTA)

A study to explore whether cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia improves cognitive function in older adults and reduces the rate of beta amyloid deposition.

Type of Study: Behavioral intervention (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia)

Who: Individuals age 60-85 with insomnia who are cognitively normal

Procedures: 3 overnight polysomnography visits, 3 cognitive assessment visits, 6 intervention sessions, monthly phone call for 1 year, 2 optional PET/MRI scans

Duration: 15 months (6-week active intervention)

Compensation: Yes

Nutrition Interventions for Cognitive Enhancement (NICE)

A study designed to assess the effect of the Mediterranean versus a low-fat eating plan on brain health

Type of Study: Dietary intervention

Who: Individuals with normal cognition, age 65 and older, with a BMI between 20-40 kg/m2

Procedures: Follow either a Mediterranean or low-fat eating pattern for 1 year, cognitive testing, blood draw, food records, height and weight, waist circumference, questionnaires, and an optional MRI

Duration: 1 year following the assigned eating plan with 7 study visits and 9 nutrition/cooking classes

Compensation: Yes

A Dyadic Approach for a Remote Physical Activity Intervention in Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and their Caregivers (M2G)

Study to test whether group physical activity delivered over the internet can increase activity levels and improve quality of life for individuals with AD and their caregivers.

Type of Study: Weekly group exercise classes or exercise done on own with personal health coach, all done remotely from home.

Who: Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease age 55 or older and caregivers age 18 or older

Procedures: physical activity monitor, functionality fitness test and fall screener, questionnaires, body measurements (height, weight, and waist circumference), medication record.

Duration: 18 months with 4 in-home visits (6 months active intervention, 6 months maintenance, 6 months no contact follow up).

Therapeutic Diets in Alzheimer's Disease (TDAD)

A study to determine the effect of a ketogenic diet (KD) on cognition and function in Alzheimer's Disease and to define KD physiological effects and mechanisms of action.

Type: Diet intervention

Who: Individuals with very mild to mild Alzheimer's Disease and a study partner

Procedures: Physical exam, blood draws, questionnaires, cognitive testing, MRI, urine testing

Duration: 3 months of diet intervention and one-month follow-up phone call with up to 7 visits to the CTSU and Hoglund Imaging Center on main campus
Compensation: Yes

Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial of Dapagliflozin in Alzheimer’s Disease (DAPA)

Study to investigate the effect of dapagliflozin in participants with probable AD. This study is evaluating the effects of dapagliflozin on n-Acetyl-Aspartate (NAA) levels, blood glucose and insulin levels, mitochondrial function, and cognitive function in people with AD.

Type of Study: Investigational drug (chance of placebo)

Who: Individuals with AD age 50-85

Procedures: Blood draws, PET, MRS (similar to MRI), pen and paper tests, vital signs, DEXA scan, Resting Metabolic Rate, Glucose Tolerance Test

Duration: 14 weeks, about 7 visits

Compensation: Yes

A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of AL001 in Individuals at risk for or with Front-Temporal Dementia (FTD) Due to Heterozygous Mutations in the Progranulin Gene (Alector AL001-3)

A study to test the safety and efficacy of an investigational medication (AL001) in individuals either at risk for or with Front Temporal Dementia (FTD) due to heterozygous mutations in the progranulin gene.

Type of Study: Investigational Medication (chance of placebo)

Who: Individuals who are known carriers of the progranulin gene mutation, either diagnosed with FTD (symptomatic) or not diagnosed with FTD (pre-symptomatic), age 18-85

Procedures: Physical exams, blood draws, questionnaires, infusions, MRIs, optional lumbar punctures, ECGs, pen and paper tests

Duration: Screening period up to 6 weeks; treatment period of monthly infusions for 48 weeks for symptomatic participants and 96 weeks for pre-symptomatic participants; 8 week of follow up or the option to enroll in Open Label Extension

AHEAD A3-45 Study: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Treatment Arm, 216 Week Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Treatment with BAN2401 in subjects

A study to determine whether treatment with the study drug, BAN2401, is safe and effective in preventing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease in individuals with higher risk for developing the disease.

Type of Study: Investigational medicine (chance of placebo)

Who: Individuals age 55-80 years old who have risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease

Procedures: MRI's, PET scans, pen and paper tests, questionnaires, blood draws, infusions, physical/neurological exams, optional lumbar puncture

Duration: 4 1/2 years

Compensation: Yes

Impact of Statin Therapy on Muscle Mitochondrial Function and Aerobic Capacity (STATINS)

A study to understand the relationship between statin therapy and muscle health, metabolism, and aerobic fitness, which are important factors for healthy aging and brain health.

Type of Study: 1-year statins intervention (chance of placebo)

Who: Individuals 35-65 with normal cognition who are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Procedures: blood draws, muscle biopsies, fitness tests, body composition scans, glucose tolerance test, pain assessments, physical function assessments.

Duration: 1 year, 12 visits total

Compensation: Yes