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Brain scans may reveal Alzheimer's years before symptoms
NCT ID NCT01638949
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study used brain imaging and memory tests to find early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers followed 242 volunteers, including healthy young, middle-aged, and older adults, to track changes over time. The goal was to understand how the disease develops and identify markers that could lead to earlier diagnosis.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could help identify early markers for Alzheimer's, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and better monitoring of the disease.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It may not directly lead to new therapies, and findings may not apply to all populations.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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242 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2012
- Finished
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Sep 2022
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria : * Education level \> 7 years * Native language: French * Medical, neurological, neuropsychological and neuroradiological depth in accordance with the criteria for inclusion and exclusion-specific population, that is to say: * Healthy young volunteers: between 18 and 40 years old; normal performances compared to the age and the educational level for all tests of the diagnostic battery (± 1.65 SD). * Healthy Middle-aged volunteers: between 40 and 60 years old; without memory complaints, normal performances compared to the age and the educational level for all tests of the diagnostic battery (± 1.65 SD). * Healthy Elderly volunteers: over 60 years old, living at home, without memory complaints, normal performances compared to the age and the educational level for all tests of the diagnostic battery (± 1.65 SD). * SCI patients: over 60 years old ; memory complaints; memory complaint ; normal performances compared to the age and the educational level for all tests of the diagnostic battery (± 1.65 SD). * MCI patients: presenting the current criteria for amnestic MCI including: i) memory complaint, ii) deficits of the episodic memory (lower performance of at least 1.65 SD from the norm for age and cultural level for one or more scores of episodic memory and iii) normal performances compared to the age and the educational level of all other cognitive functions as memory, including tests to assess cognitive abilities. * Alzheimer's patients: presenting the standard criteria of NINCDS-ADRDA probable Alzheimer's disease, including abnormal global cognitive function and deficits in at least two cognitive domains identified by the diagnostic battery and a mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (MMSE ≥ 15). Exclusion Criteria : * The sudden onset of cognitive impairments (as opposed to their slow and gradual installation in Alzheimer's disease) * A chronic neurological, psychiatric, endocrine, hepatic or infectious complaint * A history of major disease (an uncontrolled diabetes, a lung, heart, metabolic, hematologic, endocrine disease or a severe cancer) * A medication that may interfere with memory or metabolic measures * A alcohol or drugs abuse * The cons-indications to MRI (claustrophobia, metallic object in the body) * A predominantly left-hand (score below 50% in Edinburgh Inventory) * Protected adults, and persons not affiliated with a social security system will not participate in this study * The inclusion of a participant in another biomedical research protocol
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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GIP Cyceron
Caen, Calvados, 14000, France
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Inserm - EPHE - University of Caen U1077
Caen, 14000, France
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University Hospital Côte de Nacre
Caen, 14033, France
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University Hospital Pontchaillou
Rennes, 35033, France
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University Hospital Roger Salengro
Lille, 59037, France
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University Hospital Rouen
Rouen, 76031, France
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University Hospital Tours
Tours, 37044, France
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