The Waisman Center is seeking adults with Down syndrome, ages 30 and above, for a research study involving an MRI and a PET scan to examine amyloid plaque in the brains of these individuals. Researcher Brad Christian, PhD, will look at the link between amyloid plaques and Down syndrome. Individuals with Down syndrome have an extra 21st chromosome, which contains the gene that makes these proteins and could lead to earlier development of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study takes two days, with the first day spent reviewing the procedures, completing a caregiver questionnaire, and neuropsychological testing for the individual with Down syndrome. On the second day brain imaging studies are performed, including an MRI that takes 30 minutes and a PET scan that takes an hour. There will also be a blood draw. You can watch a video that shows the imaging procedures on the following link: www.waisman.wisc.edu/amyloid.
Participants will receive compensation for time and expenses. There are some funds available for families who live a few hours from the Waisman Center to travel to Madison and have an overnight stay to allow the two study visits to be on consecutive days.
Please call Renee Makuch at 608.262.4717 or toll-free at 877.558.7595 for additional information. The Waisman Center is located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and this study is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Down Syndrome Center at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
PI: Brad Christian, PhD
Keywords: Down syndrome, Brain Imaging