Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) Project 1: Pittsburg Compound B (PIB) Imaging in People at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

Recent data suggest that changes in the brain occur before the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) are noticeable. The purpose of this study is to sample different biomarkers associated with AD and determine their relationship with risk factors and cognition. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans will be used to image amyloid (a protein that builds up in the brain of people with AD). MRI scans will be used to analyze brain structure, blood flow, and activity during memory tests. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples will be collected to examine AD-related proteins and other health indicators. These data will be used in conjunction with cognitive data obtain from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP). We seek to test the hypothesis that increased amyloid deposition is directly linked to deficits in neural function as detected by longitudinal cognitive decline (from normal to amnestic mild cognitive impairment) over the prior 4 years, as well as concurrent BOLD and arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion imaging.