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Clinic for alzheimer disease and related disorders at ubc hospital (ubch-card)

Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders at UBC Hospital
(UBCH-CARD)
Studies currently enrolling (2016):
INTERVENTIONAL STUDIES
 A4 Study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the use of solanezumab, a monoclonal antibody which binds to amyloid beta, can slow memory loss in participants who may be at risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD). Amyloid beta is a component of amyloid plaques which are found in patients with AD. It is thought that AD-related damage to the brain begins many years before the symptoms of memory loss emerge, and is hoped that starting treatment very early will help slow the progression of memory loss. For
people between 65 and 85 who have either mild or no memory complaints, and are
able to have PET and MRI scans. For more information please contact Benita Mudge at
 DIAN-TU Study: The study evaluates whether 2 amyloid lowering agents, solenezumab, or gantenerumab, both antibodies which bind to amyloid beta, can prevent or delay the onset of memory loss in subjects who are at risk of developing memory problems due to an autosomal dominant genetically inherited form of AD. Participants do not have to know about their genetic status, but there must be a proven mutation in the family. Like the A4,
participants will need to be able to have PET scans and MRI scans. Contact Michele
Assaly (604) 822-1782 / or discuss with our genetic counselor Emily Dwosh /for more details.  AMARANTH Study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the use of a new investigational drug, a BACE1 inhibitor, can slow the progress of early AD by reducing beta- amyloid formation. For people between 65 and 85 who have a diagnosis of mild AD or
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and who are able to have PET and MRI scans. For
more information please contact Benita Mudge at 604 822 7990 or  FYN Study: The protein Fyn kinase may play a fundamental role in the pathway by which neurons are damaged in AD. AZD0530 (saracatinib), a selective inhibitor of Src family kinases including Fyn, was previously developed as a cancer therapy but may hold greater promise as a treatment for AD. FYN study researchers will use PET imaging and other measures to evaluate whether AZD0530 is well-tolerated and effective in slowing disease progression in patients with mild-AD. For people between 50-85 with a
diagnosis of mild AD, and are able to have PET and MRI scans. For more information
please contact Mannie Fan at 604 822 0550 or ENGAGE study: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of monthly doses of aducanumab in slowing memory loss in people diagnosed with MCI or AD. The protein amyloid beta is found in higher amount s in the brains of people with AD. Aducanumab is a recombinant human monoclonal antibody that binds to amyloid in the brain and therefore may remove existing plaques. This study is for people between 55-
85 with a diagnosis of MCI or AD, who are able to have PET and MRI scans. For more
information please contact Eloise Nicklin at 604 822 0324 or

OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES
 FTD Study: The purpose of this study is to identify the biochemical and genetic basis of
frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and to better understand the clinical and cognitive features of the disease. These data may improve our diagnostic techniques and lead to new treatments for FTD. To date our research group has identified two novel gene mutations that cause FTD (Progranulin and C9ORF72). For people who have a confirmed
family history of FTD or have themselves been diagnosed with FTD. For more
information please contact Pheth Sengdy (604)-822-7989/Theresa Tan or Madonna de Lemos (604)827-1050/  ARTFL Study: The purpose of this study is to build a Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD) clinical research consortium to support the development of FTLD therapies for future clinical trials. The consortium, "Advancing Research and Treatment for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration" (ARTFL) will bring together leading behavioural and movement disorder researchers across North America. For patients with a diagnosis of
FTD, Progessive Nonfluent Aphasia (PNFA), Semantic Dementia (SD), Progressive
Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Corticobasal Degeneration Syndrome (CBS), or FTD with
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (FTD-ALS), and their family members. For more
information, please contact Pheth Sengdy (604)-822-7989 oor Theresa Tan or Madonna de Lemos (604)-827-1050,  LEFFTDS: This study is being done to learn more about normal thinking and behaviour, mild thinking and behaviour problems, FTD and other forms of dementia in families in which one or more relatives have a mutation in one of the three major genes associated with FTD (GRN, MAPT and C9ORF72). For more information, please contact Pheth Sengdy
(604)-822-7989 oor Theresa Tan or Madonna de Lemos (604)-  Mixed Dementia Study: The purpose of this study is to characterize ‘mixed dementia' and determine the signs and symptoms of this condition. This information may help us with the early identification and treatment of the disease. This study is for people who have
memory problems due to AD, or small vessel disease (little strokes), or both. For
more information please contact Eloise Nicklin at 604 822 0324 or  Transcranial Doppler in Cognition Study: The purpose of this study is to better understand changes in the blood vessels in the brain in patients with mild cognitive problems and dementia. Using ultrasound (a type of sound wave) the doctors will be able to make measurements of the blood flow in arteries in the brain. This information will help the researchers to understand how damage to the blood (vascular disease) relates to dementia. This study is for people who have memory problems due to AD, or small
vessel disease (little strokes), or both. For more information please contact Dr. Michael

 MITNEC study: The aim of this study is to look at usefulness of imaging studies, genetic tests and measurements of memory and thinking in AD and white matter disease. By using these advanced techniques we can compare changes in the brain over a year. This study is
for patients with a diagnosis of AD and white matter changes, or small vessel disease
and white matter changes. For more information please contact Eloise Nicklin at 604 822
Canadian Familial Alzheimer Disease Study (CanFAD): The purpose of this study is to establish a database of individuals from families in which AD affects 2 or more closely- related family members and begins at age 65 or younger. Participants in this study
include clinic patients and/or their family members. This study involves collecting
family history information and blood samples from both affected and unaffected individuals in these families in order to develop a better understanding of the disease mechanism with the hope of developing effective treatments. The CanFAD database may also serve to identify individuals who are eligible for future studies such as prevention and treatment trials. Genetic counselling is available to all study participants. Questions can be directed to: Colleen Guimond (604) 822-7874/ Social Cognition Study: In this study we are looking at the differences between how people with behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) do on tests of social cognition (for example putting themselves in someone else's shoes and recognizing emotions) compared to people with depression and healthy control participants. The goal is to develop a short bedside test that can differentiate bvFTD from depression to help to better diagnose and get care for people with bvFTD who may otherwise be misdiagnosed with depression. We are
actively recruiting people between the ages of 40-75 with a diagnosis of bvFTD or
depression, and healthy controls. For more information please contact Dr. Maya
 COMPASS-ND Study: This observational study, conducted by the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration and Aging (CCNA), will evaluate the usefulness of imaging studies, clinical assessments, and biomarker tests, together with measurements of memory, thinking, and daily functioning, for assessing different sorts of cognitive and movement changes seen in older adults. For people who have Vascular MCI, AD, Mixed Dementia,
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), Parkinson's Disease (PD) Dementia, MCI in PD, or FTD.
For more information please contact Boris Feldman at 604 822 9417 or Mannie Fan at 604 822 0.  The CARD Study: The goal of this study is to gather as much information as possible on all patients referred for a clinical assessment. Blood samples collected for DNA extraction, serum and plasma banking may identify biomarkers and risk-factor genes associated with a particular type of dementia. These discoveries may lead to an improved diagnosis and treatment of dementia. For UBCH-CARD patients, their family and friends.

Upcoming Studies (enrollment to begin later in 2016)
 A MINT for AD Phase 1 Study: The overall objective of the proposed research is to determine whether a specific dietary supplement, ketogenic medium chain triglyceride, can benefit cognition in people at risk of or affected by AD and other dementias. This phase 1 study aims to determine the safety and tolerability of this dietary supplement across a range of doses and whether it improves some of the brain metabolic impairments in early disease. This study is for people between 50-90 with a diagnosis of MCI due to AD or
AD, who are able to have PET and MRI scans. For more information please contact
Penny Slack at 604 822 6379 o  SARTAN-AD study: The study investigators are examining whether certain types of blood pressure medications may have an added benefit of slowing the progression of AD. The two blood pressure medications being compared in this study are called telmisartan and perindopril. Both medications are commonly used and currently approved by Health Canada for treating high blood pressure. This study is for people 55 and older with a diagnosis of
AD and hypertension, and who are able to have MRI scans. For more information
please contact Boris Feldman at 604 822 9417 o

Source: http://www.centreforbrainhealth.ca/sites/default/files/Research_Study_List_for_Forum_-_January_22_2016-with%20logo-FINAL-for%20website.pdf