Discovery and Validation of Genetic Variants Affecting Microglial Activation in Alzheimer's Disease With 11C-ER176
The primary objectives are to validate that a previously identified gene variant influences the proportion of activated microglia (PAM) and the amount of TSPO binding on PET imaging, to identify novel loci that influence PAM and TSPO PET, and to understand the functional consequences of gene variants that drive microglial activation in Alzheimer's disease.
• Age 50 and older at time of study entry.
• Meet criteria for either a) amnestic mild cognitive impairment (single or mixed domain) or Alzheimer's disease, or b) have no cognitive impairment, based on history, exam, and neuropsychological testing.
• Patients must have Clinical Dementia Rating Scale score of 0.5 or 1 at enrollment. Controls must have Clinical Dementia Rating scale score of 0 at enrollment.
• Subjects must have AD biomarker previously obtained for research or clinical purposes or undergo a 18F-florbetaben PET scan during the screening process. Patients must have positive amyloid PET scan or CSF results consistent with AD. Controls must have a negative amyloid PET scan or CSF results not consistent with AD.
• Self-identify as white, non-Hispanic or Latino
• Subjects must be ableto provide informed consent
• Written and oral fluency in English
• Able to participate in all scheduled evaluations and to complete all required tests and procedures.
• In the opinion of the investigator, the subject must be considered likely to comply with the study protocol and to have a high probability of completing the study.