Principal Investigators

    Alan Thomas

    Institution

    Newcastle University

    Contact information of lead PI

    Country

    United Kingdom

    Title of project or programme

    123I-MIBG Scintigraphy Utility as a biomarker for Prodromal DEmentia with Lewy Bodies (SUPErB)

    Source of funding information

    Alzheimer's Research UK

    Total sum awarded (Euro)

    € 667,424

    Start date of award

    02/11/2015

    Total duration of award in years

    5.0

    The project/programme is most relevant to:

    Alzheimer's disease & other dementias

    Keywords

    Research Abstract

    Early and accurate identification of dementia is a major priority and will require diagnosis during the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage preceding dementia, also known as the prodromal phase. Biological markers of disease (biomarkers) will be needed to make these early diagnoses accurately but, unlike Alzheimer’s disease, we know little about the prodromal stage of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). DLB, like Alzheimer’s disease, has excellent biomarkers but they have not been investigated in the prodromal stage. Our pilot study has however demonstrated the feasibility of identifying people with pDLB. We have found that people with prodromal DLB have abnormal dopaminergic imaging consistent with underlying Lewy body pathology. However, pathological studies have shown that an early change in DLB is outside the brain, involving loss of nerve projections to the heart at very early stages. Myocardial tracer (123I-MIBG) imaging assesses these nerve projections and so there is good reason to believe that it may be a better early biomarker of pDLB than dopaminergic brain imaging. This proposal is for a five year study examining the utility of MIBG imaging as a biomarker predictor of cognitive decline and conversion to dementia in people with MCI due to prodromal DLB.

    Lay Summary

    Further information available at:

Types: Investments > €500k
Member States: United Kingdom
Diseases: Alzheimer's disease & other dementias
Years: 2016
Database Categories: N/A
Database Tags: N/A

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