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Longitudinal Evaluation of Amyloid Risk and Neurodegeneration - the LEARN Study

Completed
Conditions
Cognition Disorders
Registration Number
NCT02488720
Lead Sponsor
University of Southern California
Brief Summary

The LEARN study a multicenter, observational study will that will evaluate the rate of cognitive change in approximately 500 clinically normal older individuals who "screen-fail" for the A4 trial on the basis of their screening PET imaging not demonstrating evidence of elevated amyloid accumulation (Aβ negative) but meet all other A4 study eligibility criteria. This study will leverage the A4 infrastructure and maximize the data acquired in screening a large number of well-characterized older adults for the A4 trial.

The LEARN observational cohort will provide a critical comparison group for the A4 placebo arm, and future trials in preclinical AD. Although accumulating longitudinal data suggest that older individuals with elevated Aβ burden are at increased risk of cognitive decline, it is important to demonstrate a differential rate of clinical decline between Aβe ("Aβ elevated") and Aβne ("Aβ not elevated") individuals on a standardized set of clinical outcomes. Over 2000 well-characterized, highly motivated older volunteers will "screen fail" for the A4 trial. The LEARN study will follow 500 of these individuals, matched as closely as possible to the two treatment arms, in this observation cohort. The LEARN study may selectively recruit from a specific range of SUVr that fall below the threshold for "elevated amyloid" in order to support analyses of the relationship of baseline SUVr to subsequent cognitive change and amyloid accumulation. The observational cohort will be followed for 384 weeks with identical clinical/cognitive testing performed every 24 weeks, running parallel to the A4 treatment study and open label extension.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
538
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Consented to participate in the A4 study and previously met A4 demographic, cognitive and clinical criteria (e.g., Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); Clinical Dementia Ratin (CDR); Logical Memory test, part IIa (LMIIa); medications; medical history).
  2. Has a florbetapir PET scan that falls below the Aβ threshold levels required for randomization into the treatment arms of the A4 trial.
  3. In general, permitted medications should be stable for 8 weeks prior to LEARN Visit 1. Changes to medications that, in the opinion of the investigator, are not likely to impact LEARN Visit 1 assessments are permissible.
  4. Has a study partner that is willing to participate as a source of information and has at least weekly contact with the subject (contact can be in-person, via telephone or electronic communication). The study partner must have sufficient contact such that the investigator feels the study partner can provide meaningful information about the subject's daily function.
  5. In the investigator's opinion, is both willing and able to participate in all required procedures for the duration of the study (at least 240 weeks), including adequate literacy in English or Spanish and adequate vision and hearing to complete the required psychometric tests.
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Exclusion Criteria
  1. Is receiving a prescription acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) and/or memantine at LEARN Visit 1

  2. Has current serious or unstable illness including cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, gastroenterologic, respiratory, endocrinologic, neurologic, psychiatric, immunologic, or hematologic disease or other conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, could interfere with the analyses of safety and efficacy in this study.

  3. Has any contraindications for MRI studies, including claustrophobia, the presence of metal (ferromagnetic) implants, or a cardiac pacemaker that is not compatible with MRI.

  4. Has a LEARN Visit 1 MRI scan with results showing >4 hemosiderin deposits (definite microhemorrhages or areas of superficial siderosis); or any amyloid-related imaging abnormalities - edema/effusions (ARIA-E).

  5. Has received any exclusionary medication, including those with significant central nervous system (CNS) anticholinergic effects, within 3 months prior to LEARN Visit 1 or initiated at any point after screen. A full list of exclusionary medication will be provided in the relevant procedures manual.

  6. Is currently enrolled in a clinical trial involving an investigational product or non-approved use of a drug or device, or concurrently enrolled in any other type of medical research judged not to be scientifically or medically compatible with this study. Participation in observational studies may be permitted upon review of the observational study protocol and approval by the Project Director or one of the ADCS Medical Monitors.

    For subjects participating in the optional Lumbar Puncture (LP, all of the above, plus:

  7. Current use of anticoagulants, such as warfarin or dabigatran.

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Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline of the ADCS Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (ADCS-PACC) to Week 2404.5 years
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline in Cognitive Function Index (CFI) to Week 2404.5 years
Change from Baseline of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Concentrations of Amyloid Beta (Abeta) to Week 2404.5 years
Change from Baseline of Volumetric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (vMRI) to Week 2404.5 years
Change from Baseline in Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) Tau Biomarkers to Week 2404.5 years
Change from Baseline in Mean Composite Summary Uptake Value Ratio (SUVr) to Week 2404.5 years

Trial Locations

Locations (40)

University of Southern California

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Northwestern University

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Rush University Medical Center

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

University of California, Los Angeles

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Johns Hopkins University

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Brigham and Women's Hospital

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

🇺🇸

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

University of Pennsylvania

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Pittsburgh

🇺🇸

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Alabama, Birmingham

🇺🇸

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Mayo Clinic, Rochester

🇺🇸

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

University of Nebraska Medical Center

🇺🇸

Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Oregon Health & Science University

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

Boston University

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Case Western Reserve University

🇺🇸

Beachwood, Ohio, United States

Banner Alzheimer's Institute

🇺🇸

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

University of Iowa

🇺🇸

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

University of Kentucky

🇺🇸

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville

🇺🇸

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Butler Hospital Memory and Aging Program

🇺🇸

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

University of California, Irvine

🇺🇸

Irvine, California, United States

Wien Center for Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Miami Beach, Florida, United States

Synexus Clinical Research - The Villages

🇺🇸

The Villages, Florida, United States

Emory University

🇺🇸

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

VA Palo Alto HSC / Stanford School of Medicine

🇺🇸

Palo Alto, California, United States

University of Wisconsin

🇺🇸

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Banner Sun Health Research Institute

🇺🇸

Sun City, Arizona, United States

Howard University

🇺🇸

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Georgetown University

🇺🇸

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Central States Research

🇺🇸

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

University of Kansas

🇺🇸

Fairway, Kansas, United States

University of Rochester Medical Center

🇺🇸

Rochester, New York, United States

Dent Neurologic Institute

🇺🇸

Amherst, New York, United States

Yale University School of Medicine

🇺🇸

New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Synexus Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Orlando, Florida, United States

University of South Florida - Health Byrd Alzheimer Institute

🇺🇸

Tampa, Florida, United States

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

🇺🇸

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

🇺🇸

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Roper St. Francis Healthcare

🇺🇸

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Rhode Island Hospital

🇺🇸

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

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