Understanding Alzheimer's: A Brain Imaging Study

Researchers at the Boys Town National Research Hospital Institute of Human Neuroscience are studying the impact of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) on the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, with nearly 7 million individuals living with AD in the United States. There is currently no cure, and diagnostic testing is often expensive and invasive. Your participation will help us learn more about how AD impacts the brain, with the goal of developing better and more cost-effective diagnostic and treatment methods.

Who can participate?

Eligible participants are:

• Age 55 years or older
• Diagnosed with AD or MCI or experiencing signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment due to potential Alzheimer’s disease
• Fluent in English

What will participants do?

Preliminary Screening

Interested individuals without a positive PET scan from their doctor will complete a one-hour screening.

During the preliminary screening, participants will:

• Complete a blood test looking for proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease
• Answer questionnaires and complete a brief cognitive assessment

Participants will receive the results from their blood test and can have them sent to members of their care team. The results will take 2 to 6 weeks.

Only participants that receive a positive blood test or a positive PET scan from their doctor will be asked to complete additional procedures at the Institute for Human Neuroscience.

Disclaimer: While this blood test is not FDA approved at this time for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, results from this test may indicate the likelihood of the presence of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease in the brain .  

Qualified Participants Visits

Participants who qualify for the study after completing the preliminary screening will complete 3 to 4 in-person visits each lasting around 3 to 4 hours.

Participants will:

• Complete mental testing
• Complete lifestyle questionnaires
• Undergo a non-invasive MEG scan and MRI scan
• Get a blood draw

Participants who have not previously completed a PET/CT scan will complete an additional imaging visit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Imaging Center. This visit will take around 1.5 hours.

Where will the study take place?

Institute for Human Neuroscience
14090 Mother Teresa Ln
Boys Town, NE 68010

Compensation

Research participants who complete the preliminary screening will receive $50.

Research participants who qualify for and complete the study will receive between $275 and $350 for their participation.

For more information, please contact Grant Garrison at grant.garrison@boystown.org or by phone at 531-355-8929. You can also fill out the eligibility form below, and someone will be in contact with you.