The purpose of the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) Clinical Core is to help researchers identify people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease earlier and find better ways to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease and related memory disorders. People who join the Clinical Core attend either annual or every-other-year visits with a study partner and undergo memory and thinking abilities evaluations. They also participate in other ADRC-affiliated studies.
View the Wisconsin ADRC Clinical Core recruitment flyer.
Study Commitment
- No-cost study visits, either annually or every other year, of 5–6 hours that include:
- Written tests and questionnaires that evaluate memory and thinking abilities (due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these are currently being done over the phone)
- A fasting blood draw
- A physical exam
- A study partner who can come with you to study visits and answer questions about your memory and daily life
- Biomarker visits to help identify early markers for Alzheimer’ disease:
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan: a very detailed image of the brain
- Lumbar puncture: collection of cerebrospinal fluid from the lower back
- PET (positron emission tomography) scan: to detect amyloid or tau in the brain
Participation Eligibility
- People with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease
- People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
- People age 45-65 with or without a parental history of Alzheimer's disease
NOTE: Study enrollment needs can fluctuate from time to time. The Clinical Core currently seeks Black and/or African American and Native/Indigenous American research participants.
