Principal Investigators

    DICKERSON, BRADFORD C

    Institution

    MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL

    Contact information of lead PI

    Country

    USA

    Title of project or programme

    Imaging tau, amyloid, and neurodegeneration in PPA

    Source of funding information

    NIH (NIA)

    Total sum awarded (Euro)

    € 3,922,009.17

    Start date of award

    01/09/2016

    Total duration of award in years

    5

    The project/programme is most relevant to:

    Alzheimer's disease & other dementias

    Keywords

    Primary Progressive Aphasia, tau Proteins, Amyloid, Nerve Degeneration, Alzheimer's Disease

    Research Abstract

    Abstract Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a devastating neurodegenerative syndrome that involves relentless development of aphasia with relative sparing of other cognitive functions, at least early in its course. There are multiple subtypes as well as multiple underlying pathologies. PPA and its subtypes can be difficult to differentiate from other neurodegenerative disorders and from each other, particularly early in their course. There are currently few clinical tools to assist in the early specific diagnosis of PPA and its subtypes. We have recently made substantial preliminary progress toward the development of novel imaging techniques that could be extremely valuable in early specific diagnosis of the molecular basis of specific pathologies underlying PPA. We propose to use tau and amyloid imaging tracers to attempt to discriminate these underlying molecular pathologies, and FDG-PET, functional connectivity MRI, and morphometric structural MRI to measure and longitudinally monitor markers of neurodegeneration in the language network(s) and other brain regions. In addition to more accurate diagnosis, these measures will likely be important for prognostication and monitoring of decline and the effects of putative therapies. The overall goal of this proposal is to translate these methods from new scientific technologies into clinically useful tools that can be used by clinicians around the country and internationally to improve the diagnostic specificity and assessment capabilities for PPA and its subtypes.

    Lay Summary

    Project Narrative Primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a devastating neurodegenerative syndrome that involves relentless development of language impairment, is currently not treatable in part because of a lack of tools available for identifying the underlying molecular diagnosis and for monitoring patients. This project aims to employ and validate new imaging methods for use as markers in clinical research and care, one goal of which is to serve as markers to determine whether potential therapies are effective.

    Further information available at:

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

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