Cognitive, MRI, and PET studies of memory systems across the lifespan

Eligibility

We will enroll 55 older adults age 55+ in good physical health and free of dementia and major neurological or psychiatric disorders.

Participants must have no MRI contraindications, free of dementia and major neurological or psychiatric disorders, weigh no more than 300lbs, be right-handed (to account for laterality differences in brain function), no history of substance abuse within 1 year, no difficulty in urinating or emptying bladder, and have not received research-related radiation exposure within the last 12 months causing a total radiation exposure greater than 50 mSv including the exposure from the current study.

To determine if you are eligible for the study, please email The Neuroscience of Memory, Mood, and Aging Laboratory at lealmemorylab@ucla.

Purpose

The purpose of this research study is to learn how the human brain can learn and remember things as we age. This research study is designed to help further our understanding of what structures in the brain are involved in memory function and the mechanisms by which they operate in healthy aging. This study is designed to help further our understanding of the effects of Alzheimer’s disease pathology (amyloid and tau) on memory systems of the brain in cognitively normal aging. Studying healthy older adults enables us to understand age-related changes in the brain and in memory systems that could potentially lead to interventions that may assist individuals with age-related memory impairment.

Involvement

Participation will take a total of 3 visits, with each visit lasting approximately 2-3 hours (~6-9 hours total).

 If you volunteer to participate in this study, the researcher will ask you to do the following:

During the first visit, you will undergo:

• A 1-hour MRI testing session
• A 1-1.5-hour neuropsychological testing session that includes a standard battery of neuropsychological tests of cognition (e.g., memory, processing speed, attention, executive functioning) and questionnaires (e.g., stress, mood, lifestyle, depression, retirement, etc.)
• Saliva sample to measure genetic risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Note: genetic testing results will not be shared with participants)
• The visit will take place at the Brain Mapping Center at UCLA and the Neuroscience of Memory, Mood, and Aging Laboratory.

During the second visit, you will undergo:

• One PET imaging scan (tau PET) – this is a neuropathological marker of Alzheimer’s disease, which is FDA-approved (~2 hours)
• The visit will take place at the Brain Mapping Center at UCLA.

During the third visit, you will undergo:

• One PET imaging scan (amyloid PET) – this is a neuropathological marker of Alzheimer’s disease, which is FDA-approved (~2 hours)
• The visit will take place at the Brain Mapping Center at UCLA.

Benefits

Participants will not directly benefit from participation in this study. This study may benefit society if the results lead to a better understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease pathology impacts memory systems of the brain. In addition, results from this study may be helpful in developing novel biomarkers or targeting therapeutic interventions to treat disorders involving memory such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Contact

The Neuroscience of Memory, Mood, and Aging Laboratory at UCLA

Phone: 310-267-5607

Email: lealmemorylab@ucla.edu

Web: memory.ibp.ucla.edu

View Study Flyer (PDF)