Overview
The goal of this observational study is to learn about the levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to determine if brain NAD levels are lower in people with Alzheimer's disease compared with people of the same age group who do not have Alzheimer's disease.
Participants with or without Alzheimer's disease will have a brain imaging session where NAD will be measured using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Eight months later, they will have a second, similar, brain imaging session.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participants are able to come to the Florida Atlantic University Clinical Research Unit, are verbal and ambulatory.
- Age 65 to 80 included.
- People with Alzheimer's disease (AD): AD diagnosis established by the person's physician according to the following criteria: clinical diagnosis AND either positive amyloid PET-scan or FDA-approved positive CSF or blood test.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Under the age of 65 or over the age of 80.
- Advanced dementia such that the person would require sedation for undergoing an MRI scan.
- Receiving anti-amyloid intravenous treatments Leqembi or Kinsula.
- Having an MRI-incompatible pacemaker or other MRI-incompatible hardware (e.g. comprising a metallic part).
- Having a history of seizures.
- Working at night.
- Having cancer or having been diagnosed with cancer within the last 5 years (excluding superficial squameous or basal cell cancer).
- People with no AD: MoCA test result lower than 26.