BETHESDA, Md., June 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. National Institutes of Health is funding a $24 million study that seeks to identify brain changes that might signal future Alzheimer's disease.
Volunteers are now being sought for the two-year clinical study examining the subtle changes that may occur in the brains of older people many years before overt symptoms of Alzheimer's disease appear. Researchers are looking for people with the very earliest complaints of memory problems that affect their daily activities.
"The study will follow participants over time, using imaging techniques developed to advance research into changes taking place in the structure and function of the living brain, as well as biomarker measures found in blood and cerebrospinal fluid," the NIH said.
Researchers said they want to recruit 200 volunteers between the ages of 55 and 90 who may be transitioning from normal cognitive aging to an early stage of amnestic mild cognitive impairment -- a condition that can progress to Alzheimer's disease. Participants may volunteer at 51 sites across the United States.
To volunteer or learn more about the study people can contact the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center at 800-438-4380. Volunteers must speak English or Spanish and have a person willing to assist them during at least five clinic visits and with telephone contacts from researchers.
