Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Despite major research efforts, effective treatments that slow or stop disease progression remain limited. Growing evidence suggests that inflammation in the brain and the body plays a key role in the onset and progression of AD. In particular, immune cells called regulatory T cells (Tregs), which normally help control inflammation, are impaired in AD individuals. This leads to increased activity of harmful immune pathways that worsen brain injury. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a drug that can restore the function of Tregs. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide, are a class of drugs currently used to treat diabetes and obesity. Beyond their metabolic effects, GLP-1RAs also reduce inflammation, protect brain cells, and improve cellular energy balance. Laboratory studies, including our own, show that combining IL-2 with semaglutide has stronger effects than either drug alone. Together, they enhance Treg function, dampen harmful inflammatory responses, and improve cell survival. These findings support testing IL-2 plus semaglutide as a novel combination therapy for AD. We now propose a clinical trial to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and biological effects of this strategy. The study will enroll 30 individuals with AD, ages 50 to 86, who have a confirmed diagnosis by amyloid PET brain imaging and a Mini-Mental State Exam score between 16 and 26. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) placebo, (2) low-dose IL-2 alone, or (3) IL-2 combined with semaglutide. Throughout the trial, participants will undergo regular medical exams, blood tests, and safety monitoring. We will measure how the treatment affects Tregs and other immune cells, inflammatory markers in blood and CSF, and established Alzheimer's biomarkers such as amyloid beta, tau, and neurofilament light chain. Cognitive and functional assessments will also be conducted to explore potential benefits on memory and daily living skills. If successful, this study will provide the first evidence that a dual immunotherapeutic strategy can safely modify disease-related processes in AD. Such findings would lay the foundation for larger clinical trials and could open the door to a new, multimodal approach to slowing or preventing Alzheimer's progression.
Alzheimer Dementia (AD)· The Methodist Hospital Research Institute· Houston, Texas· Ages 50–86
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of tau pathology, and blood-based biomarkers such as phosphorylated tau-217 (pTau217) have been identified as sensitive and specific predictors of AD risk. Recent studies suggest that individuals with elevated pTau217 levels may be at increased risk for developing AD and cognitive dysfunction. This observational study will examine donated human plasma samples to determine whether some units of donated blood contain abnormally elevated pTau217 concentrations. The overarching goal is to evaluate whether transfusion of blood with higher pTau217 may pose risks to recipients and whether such units should be avoided in clinical use.
Alzheimer&Amp;#39;s Disease· The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston· Houston, Texas
Inflammation occurs in many brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, an abnormal protein called amyloid starts accumulating decades before the start of forgetfulness. However, scientists have reported that inflammation but not amyloid is linked to forgetfulness and the topography of brain inflammation and tau buildup are closely correlated in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. New medications are under development to help healing and prevent permanent damage in the brain. To see if inflammation is improving or getting worse with these medications, investigators can watch inside of the brain using a special camera called positron emission tomography (PET). It is currently possible to watch inflammation in the brain by taking pictures of a molecule called translocator protein (TSPO). But the problem is that by imaging TSPO, investigators can catch changes in more than one kind of cells. The information is not specific to each cell type. Such vague information is not completely useful to monitor the effect of new medications for inflammation. This proposal attempts to develop a novel method to capture changes in each of two major players in inflammation, microglia and astrocytes. To do so, investigators will take selective pictures of one cell type by using a novel imaging agent for PET. Investigators will also take PET pictures of TSPO. Investigators will process these two kinds of PET pictures using advanced mathematical methods and extract specific information on microglia and astrocytes. Our novel method will be useful to monitor new therapies to treat inflammation in the brain.
Alzheimer Disease· The Methodist Hospital Research Institute· Houston, Texas· Ages 18–90
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive form of brain stimulation, can improve short-term memory in people with early Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study will also evaluate the safety of this approach.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does rTMS applied to the cerebellum improve short-term memory in people with early AD?
* How does this stimulation affect brain activity and connectivity measured by MRI?
Researchers will compare active rTMS to sham rTMS (a look-alike procedure that does not deliver brain stimulation) to see if rTMS works to improve memory.
Participants will:
* Complete a screening visit with medical and memory assessments
* Be randomly assigned to receive either active rTMS or sham rTMS (neither participants nor researchers will know the assignment during treatment)
* Receive 20 rTMS sessions over 4 weeks (about 20 to 30 minutes per session)
* Undergo two MRI scans, one before and one after treatment
* Complete memory and thinking tests and questionnaires at baseline, immediately after treatment, and at 3- and 6-month follow-up visits
Participation in the study will last about 6 months.
The rTMS is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects include mild headache and scalp discomfort during treatment, which are usually short-lasting. MRI is non-invasive and safe for most people. Study procedures will be reviewed to ensure participant safety.
Participants may or may not benefit directly from this study. People who receive active rTMS may experience improvement in memory. This research may help improve understanding of memory function in AD and support development of new treatments.
Alzheimer s Disease· Chi-Ying (Roy) Lin· Houston, Texas· Ages 55–90
Study AACU determines rates of cognitive worsening in participants within elevated and not elevated plasma P-tau217 cohorts.
Participation in AACU will last approximately 7 years.
Alzheimer Disease· Eli Lilly and Company· Houston, Texas· Ages 55–75
The goal of this pilot study is to test a combination of two non-invasive brain stimulation methods, called iTBS (intermittent theta burst stimulation) and tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation), in people with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD). This study will also explore whether the combined treatment shows promise for reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms like mood swings, apathy, and agitation, and will evaluate the impact of the treatment on caregivers.
The main questions the study aims to answer are:
1. Is the combined brain stimulation treatment practical and well-tolerated?
2. Do preliminary results suggest that this treatment could help manage neuropsychiatric symptoms and support a larger study?
Participants will:
* Attend nine in-person visits over three months.
* Complete one week of in-clinic brain stimulation sessions (iTBS) followed by four weeks of daily at-home brain stimulation sessions (tDCS).
* Take part in brain scans, questionnaires, and brain activity tests before and after the treatment.
This pilot study is a first step to assess whether this combined treatment approach is practical and whether it has potential to improve symptoms, laying the groundwork for larger studies in the future.
Alzheimer&Amp;#39;s Disease-related Dementia· Baylor College of Medicine· Houston, Texas· Ages 65–85
To collect Tau PET/CT imaging in older adults diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in the Mismatch Prospective Cohort Study (MPC-Tau) study to determine relationship to clinical, cognitive, and other biomarker data. Findings from this study will likely provide insight into the phenotypic variability of Alzheimer's Disease and other related pathologies.
Alzheimer's Disease· University of Pennsylvania· Boston, Massachusetts · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania· Ages 18–120
This study examines whether Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music (CDIM) can reduce anxiety in people living with Alzheimer's disease and anxiety (AD-A), and whether it can also lessen caregiver burden. CDIM is a live, receptive music-based intervention that uses slow tempi, simple diatonic melodic lines, soft dynamics, and periodic pauses to promote relaxation. As described in the proposal, CDIM has previously been shown to reduce stress and improve physiological markers such as heart rate, blood pressure, and EEG alpha/beta ratios (CDIM significantly decreased physical stress symptoms and patients also reported positive emotional outcomes and EEG readings showed increased alpha/beta brainwave ratios ).
The study will enroll 30 dyads (individuals with AD-A and their caregivers). Dyads will be randomly assigned to either CDIM or a control intervention (CI) consisting of calming short stories read aloud. Both interventions include eight 30-minute sessions over four weeks, delivered in alternating in-person and virtual formats.
The primary goal is to determine whether CDIM is feasible and effective in reducing anxiety in individuals with AD-A, measured by the Rating Anxiety in Dementia (RAID) scale, and in reducing caregiver burden, measured by the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The study also evaluates changes in heart rate and blood pressure as indicators of autonomic regulation.
A second goal is to explore whether CDIM improves central auditory processing, assessed using the frequency-following response (FFR). The proposal notes that central auditory processing declines with age and dementia and may contribute to anxiety. FFR will be measured before and after the intervention to determine whether CDIM enhances neural timing and response magnitude.
Overall, this pilot study aims to determine whether CDIM is a feasible, safe, and potentially effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing anxiety in individuals with AD-A and decreasing caregiver burden, while also investigating its underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.
CMK-0301 is a multi-site, randomized clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of \[F-18\]Flornaptitril-PET (F-18 FNT-PET) for the prediction of clinical progression of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) with either Suspected Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) or Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
The primary objectives of the study are to: (1) To determine the accuracy of F-18 FNT-PET in prediction of clinical decline and (2) To assess the safety and tolerability of F-18 FNT.
The secondary objectives include: (1) To demonstrate the feasibility of F-18 FNT-PET in differentiation of participants with suspected chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from those with suspected Alzheimer's disease (AD) by trained image readers, (2) To evaluate disease progression in participants with suspected CTE or AD and (3) To evaluate the correlation between F-18 FNT-PET regional and summary visual reads scan and other assessments.
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether oral resveratrol, quercetin, and curcumin (RQC) can prevent the accumulation of retinal amyloid-β and/or cognitive decline over 24 months in adults aged 50-90 with Stage 1 or 2 Alzheimer's disease as described in FDA-2013-D-0077. The trial will also evaluate the safety and tolerability of RQC. Curcumin, which binds to amyloid-β, will act as a fluorescent label to identify retinal amyloid-β in vivo using optical coherence tomography (OCT)-autofluorescence imaging. The investigators will longitudinally evaluate the effect of RQC on retinal amyloid-β load cognitive outcomes including the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and potential microvascular biomarkers. The investigators will also evaluate associations between retinal amyloid-β and progression to early Alzheimer's disease (mild cognitive impairment). The investigators will compare RQC, taken daily for 24 months, with curcumin alone, taken only during the 7 days preceding each of the six study visits to see if RQC can prevent (or reduce) amyloid-β and prevent the onset of mild cognitive impairment.
Alzheimer Disease· Zaparackas and Knepper LTD· Chicago, Illinois· Ages 50–90
The goal of this study is to is to focus on the genetic influences on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) risk. The investigators are looking for families and/or individuals (affected or unaffected) of any ethic background (African American, Caucasian, and Hispanics) with a family history of AD and willing to participate.
Alzheimer Disease· Columbia University· New York, New York
The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Zunveyl® over 12 weeks of routine clinical use in adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer Disease· Alpha Cognition, Inc· Orange, California · Aventura, Florida +10 more
The Alzheimer's Network for Treatment and Diagnostics (ALZ-NET) will collect longitudinal clinical and safety data for enrolled patients being evaluated for or treated with novel FDA-approved Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapies. ALZ-NET is a longitudinal registry with an expandable platform, designed to grow with scientific and medical advancements. As new treatments are approved and implemented in care, ALZ-NET will track the long-term health outcomes associated with their use in a real-world setting. ALZ-NET is a resource for evidence gathering, information sharing and education across clinical and research communities, encouraging innovative research and supporting opportunities to improve clinical care delivery. All participating physicians and site staff will complete comprehensive training to ensure adherence of data requirements and registry timelines.
Alzheimer Disease· Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc· Chicago, Illinois
This study compares p-tau217 concentrations in blood collected via the Tasso device versus standard venipuncture in subjects with and without Alzheimer's disease, including a subset with confirmed amyloid pathology.
Alzheimer s Disease· Neurogen Biomarking LLC· Chicago, Illinois· Ages 40–90
Bio-Hermes-002 is a 120-day cross-sectional study that will result in a blood, CSF, retinal, digital, MRI, and PET brain imaging biomarker database that can be used to determine the primary objective. Digital biomarkers and blood-based biomarkers will be tested to determine whether a meaningful relationship exists between biomarkers alone or in combination with tau or amyloid brain pathology identified through PET images.
The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the study drug known as LY4006895. Part A will administer a single-ascending dose in healthy participants or Part B will administer multiple-ascending doses in participants with early symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
Blood tests will be performed to check how much LY4006895 gets into the bloodstream and how long it takes the body to eliminate it.
This is a 2-part study and will last approximately 29 weeks for Part A and 61 weeks for Part B, including a screening period for each part.
Alzheimer Disease· Eli Lilly and Company· Farmington Hills, Michigan · Marlton, New Jersey +9 more· Ages 45–85
The purpose of this research study is to test the study drug, referred to as remternetug, to determine its effectiveness for the study treatment of asymptomatic (at risk) Alzheimer disease in individuals with AD-causing mutations. This study will also investigate the effects of remternetug on biomarkers (measures of the disease including brain scans, blood and spinal fluid tests), examine safety data to identify any potential benefits or risks, and examine how well participants can tolerate remternetug.
Stage 1 will determine if treatment with the study drug prevents or reverses amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation compared with placebo in participants with dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease (DIAD).
Stage 2 will evaluate the effect of early anti-amyloid treatment on downstream biomarkers of AD in treated participants compared to external control groups.
Alzheimers Disease· Washington University School of Medicine· Atlanta, Georgia
The purpose of this Master Protocol is to support multiple studies looking at safety and tolerability of different drugs in healthy participants and participants with Alzheimer's disease, and if they remove clumps of protein (amyloid plaque) in the brain in participants with Alzheimer's Disease. Participants will enroll into either A1D-MC-AT01 (NCT07787182) or A1D-MC-AT02 (upcoming).
Alzheimer Disease· Eli Lilly and Company· Daytona Beach, Florida · Decatur, Georgia· Ages 18–85