Alzheimer's Biomarkers Consortium-Down Syndrome

What Is This Study About?

The Alzheimer's Biomarkers Consortium-Down Syndrome (ABC-DS) project is a large research initiative to find biomarkers to track Alzheimer's disease in people with Down syndrome. Over a five-year period, researchers will collect information and blood samples from people with Down syndrome and their siblings. Participants may undergo physical exams, neurological tests, brain scans, and assessments to measure cognition, memory, and movement. Additional information will be obtained through personal and family health history, caregiver questionnaires, and genetic studies. Information gained from this initiative may help people with Alzheimer's and Down syndrome, as well as people with only Alzheimer's disease.

Do I Qualify To Participate in This Study?

Must have:

• Person with Down syndrome (full trisomy, partial trisomy, or mosaic Down syndrome)
• Brother or sister of a person with Down syndrome
• IQ of 30 or higher, according to Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test
• Cognitively stable or mild cognitive impairment
• Willingness to participate in study procedures including:
  • Cognitive and memory tests
  • Physical and neurological exams
  • Blood draw to identify biomarkers and collect DNA
  • Optional, but encouraged procedures include brain scans (MRI and positron emission tomography) and lumbar puncture to collect cerebrospinal fluid
• Able to provide informed consent or have a legally authorized representative

Must NOT have:

• Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other type of dementia
• Conditions that would interfere with cognitive assessments, including:
  • Unstable medical or a psychiatric condition
  • Severe motor or sensory impairment
• IQ less than 30, according to Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test

If I Qualify, Who Do I Contact?

Contact study personnel listed either under the general study contact or the location nearest you.

 

Who Is the General Study Contact?

Below are the U.S. locations recruiting for this study. In addition, the University of Cambridge, in the United Kingdom, is also recruiting for this study. To contact them, please email Jessica Beresford-Webb
or Monika Grigorova or call +44-7547-348-323.

Where Is This Study Located?

California
University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697 Recruiting Eric Doran 714-456-8443 edoran@hs.uci.edu
Kentucky
University of Kentucky: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging & Kentucky Neuroscience Institute Lexington, KY 40506 Recruiting Roberta Davis 859-218-3865 roberta.davis@uky.edu
Massachusetts
Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA 02114 Recruiting Gabriella Leka 617-726-2092 dsresearch@mgh.harvard.edu
Missouri
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110 Recruiting Brittany Nelson 314-747-8425 bmnelson@wustl.edu
New York
Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, NY 10032 Recruiting Deborah Pang 718-494-5165 deborah.i.pang@opwdd.ny.gov
NYS Institute for Basic Research New York, NY 10314 Recruiting Deborah Pang 718-494-5165 deborah.i.pang@opwdd.ny.gov
Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA 15260 Recruiting Cathy Wolfe 412-235-5412 wolfec@upmc.edu
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Waisman Center Madison, WI 53705 Recruiting Renee Makuch 608-262-4717 makuch@waisman.wisc.edu

Who Sponsors This Study?

Lead: University of Pittsburgh

Collaborator Sponsor

• National Institute on Aging
• National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• University of California, Irvine
• University of Wisconsin - Madison