(Washington, D.C.) — Healthy men and women between the ages of 55 and 90 with very early complaints of memory problems are invited to join an Alzheimer’s research study at Georgetown’s Memory Disorders Program, a part of Georgetown University Medical Center. The clinical study examines the subtle changes that may take place in the brains of older people many years before overt symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear.

The study uses imaging techniques specifically developed to advance research by examining changes taking place in the structure and function of the brain, as well as biomarker measures found in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Participants will be asked to undergo three test procedures (MRI and PET scans, lumbar puncture). The study does not provide treatment and does not directly benefit participants, but the information gathered will help future generations with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s.

“We cannot end this terrible disease unless we know more about it,” says Brigid Reynolds, A.N.P., principal investigator of the study at Georgetown. “This is where volunteers can make the difference in our success.”

According to the National Institute of Aging, more than 5.3 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s, and every 70 seconds, another person develops this disease. In Washington, DC, more than 9,000 people aged 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer’s, making finding a cure a pressing need in our community.

The research is funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the NIH Office of the Director. In addition to the Georgetown University Memory Disorders Program, 49 other sites in the United States are participating in the study.

“This is part of an ongoing effort to establish imaging and fluid biomarker measures of Alzheimer’s disease from the onset of mild symptoms to the advanced stages of the disease process,” said NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. “By advancing the understanding of the full spectrum of the disease, we’ll be better able to identify who is at risk, track progression of the disorder, and devise measurements to test the effectiveness of potential prevention or treatment strategies.”

Volunteers must speak English. Participants must have a person willing to assist them during at least five clinic visits and with telephone contacts from researchers.

To volunteer or learn more about the study, contact Kelly Behan in the GUMC Memory Disorders Program by calling (202) 687-0413 or by emailing her at keb53@georgetown.edu. To learn more about this and other Alzheimer’s disease research, visit memory.georgetown.edu.

Media Contact: Marianne Worley
Phone: 703-558-1287
Email: WorleyM@gunet.georgetown.edu
Media Contact: Karen Mallet
Phone: 215-514-9751
Email: km463@georgetown.edu

Patient Contact: 202-342-2400