Alzheimer’s & MCI Research Study

The Institute for Human Neuroscience (IHN) at Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha is seeking individuals 55 years and older who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to participate in a research study. Participants who qualify will receive a free amyloid PET scan in addition to being financially compensated for their time. Your participation in this vital research will help scientists find more cost-effective methods for helping diagnose individuals with Alzheimer’s, as current methods are costly and invasive.  

Who: Adults who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or an MCI due to Alzheimer’s by a physician or neurologist

Age: 55+

Compensation: $75 per visit (first 3 visits), $50 for PET visit

Time: 3 hours per visit (3 visits), plus 1-hour PET visit

Visit Type: In-person

Location: Institute for Human Neuroscience – Boys Town Main (West) Campus

Requirements: Have not had a major neurologic disease (aside from AD or MCI), are able to complete a series of mental tasks in English, have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Fill out this form if you would like to be contacted about this study.

The Institute for Human Neuroscience (IHN) at Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, is seeking individuals 55 years and older who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s by a physician or neurologist, to participate in a research study. Participants who qualify will receive a free amyloid PET scan in addition to being financially compensated for their time. This research will help scientists identify more cost-effective methods for helping diagnose and treat individuals with Alzheimer’s compared to current costly and invasive methods. 

Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia, is most frequently characterized by a person’s inability to remember information and difficulty performing daily activities. Alzheimer’s is a disease that results from the presence and buildup of two proteins within the brain: amyloid and tau. As these proteins accumulate, they begin to interfere with and prevent normal brain functioning. As the disease progresses, memory, and other brain functions continue to decline until eventually proving fatal (Alz.org).  

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but early detection can help with treatment and support. An amyloid PET scan is the most reliable way to confirm Alzheimer’s, but it is expensive, typically exceeding $8,000, and often not covered by insurance (Richman, 2022, Rauf, 2019, Rabinovici et al., 2019). Still, a positive scan can lead to appropriate treatments that have been shown to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s (www.nia.nih.gov). Additionally, a previously acquired amyloid PET scan can qualify a person for newly approved treatments or allow them to participate in a clinical trial investigating new treatments. 

The DICoN Laboratory at IHN directed by Tony Wilson, Ph.D., is among the research teams working hard to understand this disease. Dr. Tony Wilson is a world-renowned neuroscientist who studies human brain health. Dr. Wilson and his team of researchers are particularly interested in identifying ways to diagnose Alzheimer’s and to measure the effectiveness of various treatment methods on Alzheimer’s patients.

Individuals who are interested in participating in the study must have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or an MCI due to Alzheimer’s by a physician or neurologist.  

In addition to the PET scan, participants are expected to complete three visits to the IHN that would involve an eligibility screening, questionnaires, mental assessments, an MRI scan, an MEG scan, and a blood draw. Qualified participants will be financially compensated for each visit. 

To learn more about the equipment we use in our research, including the MEG, a unique and powerful machine that the DICoN Lab specializes in, click HERE.

For more information about the study, please contact Grant Garrison at grant.garrison@boystown.org or by phone at 531-355-8929. You can also fill out the initial eligibility form above, and someone will be in contact with you.

Additional Resources

More information about Alzheimer's

More information about the Institute for Human Neuroscience

Published Papers by Dr. Tony Wilson and the DICoN Laboratory on Alzheimer's

***The Institute for Human Neuroscience will have a booth at the Omaha, chapter of the Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, October 14th.

Sources from the article:

Richman, M. (2022). VA-led research finds PET scans important for ruling out Alzheimer’s disease. https://www.research.va.gov/currents/0922-VA-led-research-finds-PET-scans-important-for-ruling-out-Alzheimers-disease.cfm

Rauf, D. (2019). Amyloid PET scans may drastically change Alzheimer’s diagnosis and care, study finds. https://www.everydayhealth.com/alzheimers-disease/amyloid-pet-scans-may-drastically-change-alzheimers-diagnosis-care-study-finds/

Rabinovici, G. D., Gatsonis, C., Apgar, C., Chaudhary, K., Gareen, I., Hanna, L., Hendrix, J., Hillner, B. E., Olson, C., Lesman-Segev, O. H., Romanoff, J., Siegel, B. A., Whitmer, R. A., & Carrillo, M. C. (2019). Association of Amyloid Positron Emission Tomography with Subsequent Change in Clinical Management Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia. JAMA, 321(13), 1286-1294. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.2000

Alzheimer’s Association (2023). What is Alzheimer’s Disease. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers

National Institute on Aging. (2023). “What are the benefits of early Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis”, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-alzheimers-disease-diagnosed