Our Research

NJ Down Syndrome Aging Study

Understanding Aging and Brain Health in Adults with Down Syndrome

Adults with Down syndrome are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology as they age, but not everyone develops clinical signs of dementia. Our study aims to understand why by identifying early, non-invasive signs of Alzheimer’s in adults with Down syndrome.

We use cognitive tests to measure within-person variability in memory and thinking abilities, alongside blood tests and brain imaging to examine biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s. Our goal is to improve early identification of individuals with DS who are at risk for dementia and to better understand resilience and resistance to pathology. This knowledge intends to enhance the design and interpretation of clinical trials while also providing a foundation for new preventative strategies to improve cognitive aging in this population.

Who can participate?
Adults with Down syndrome, ages 20 and older, living in New Jersey.

What does participation involve?

• Visiting our study site in New Jersey
• Completing memory and thinking tasks (available in English, Spanish and Portuguese)
• Answering questions about health and daily life
• Having an informant who can answer questions about their health
• Optionally providing a blood sample for Alzheimer’s-related biomarker testing (such as amyloid and tau) and completing brain imaging and physical exams

We warmly welcome adults from all cultural backgrounds and work closely with individuals, families, and caregivers to make sure everyone feels comfortable and supported throughout the study.

Why is this study important?

• Helps improve early detection of Alzheimer’s neuropathology and dementia risk in the Down syndrome community
• Supports development of low-cost, non-invasive tools to monitor brain health
• Enhances design of clinical trials to better include and serve adults with DS
• Aims to understand cognitive resilience and resistance to Alzheimer’s in DS, guiding future preventative strategies to improve quality of life

Recruitment is opening soon!
If you’re interested in learning more and being contacted when enrollment begins, please contact the main PI for this study. She will be happy to answer any questions and can notify you when recruitment starts: Dr. Luciana Mascarenhas Fonseca luciana.fonseca@rutgers.edu

The Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center is frequently starting new studies, and we’re looking for volunteers. To match interested persons with future studies, we have created this database to identify persons who may qualify. Anyone who is interested in contributing to Alzheimer’s disease research may join the KKARC Research Registry. Joining the Research Recruitment Registry does not commit you to participate in future studies. If you are contacted about a new study, you may decline to participate in that study and still remain in the registry to receive information about other future studies.

Research Recruitment Registry

This study seeks to recruit individuals with ethnic or racial backgrounds from the South Asian subcontinents, aged 45-70, who have a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (one or more parents with Alzheimer’s Disease, high blood pressure, BMI >30, or Type II diabetes/pre-diabetes). Study participants will complete a series of assessments for factors that have been linked to AD. These include study visits every two years, involving surveys, cognitive assessments, language assessments, motor function tasks, blood tests, physical and neurological exams, and brain imaging. We will compensate you for your time.

Now enrolling!

You may also complete our screening form (the screening form does not obligate you to participate in the study):

Screening form

Join our research study “ Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) for the prevention of cognitive decline in APOE4 older adults with mild cognitive impairment”

Are you 60 years of age or older, with a diagnosis of amnestic MCI? You might be eligible to participate in our trial of ALA for the prevention of cognitive decline!

We aim to determine the effects of ALA on cognitive and brain health in an at-risk population We are looking for individuals aged 60 and older, with a diagnosis of amnestic MCI.  This study will evaluate the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) supplementation on cognitive function and brain health in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and APOE4 genotype (a risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease).

All research participants will complete a screening visit, during which they will complete a medical assessment, cognitive screening, and a blood draw. Participants will receive genetic testing for the APOE4 genotype (a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease). This will determine whether an individual is eligible.

Those with the APOE4 genotype will be eligible for a clinical trial of Alpha linolenic acid (ALA), a safe, potentially therapeutic strategy for older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Participants will receive either daily supplementation of ALA or a placebo for six months, and will complete several visits over those six months.

Visits will include cognitive testing, MRI scanning, a blood draw, and other measures of sleep, diet, and functioning. As this is a clinical trial, participants may potentially benefit if our hypothesis that ALA improves brain function and cognition is confirmed.

Participants will receive up to a total of $300 and will be reimbursed for travel.

For eligibility and inquiries, contact us at adrd@bhi.rutgers.edu.

Investigator: Michal Schnaider Beeri

Latinx populations are one of the fastest-growing groups of older adults in the US with increased risk for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD). Brazilian immigrants are a Latinx group that has been growing in the U.S. but is highly underrepresented in health-related research in the U.S. Therefore, little is known about their risk and protective factors for ADRD, which impedes optimal diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of ADRD in the Brazilian community. In addition, many Brazilian immigrants in the U.S. have limited health access/utilization and therefore can be at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, brain/mental health disorders, and ADRD.

This study seeks to recruit Brazilian immigrants living in New Jersey and New York states. Candidates for the study should be at least 55 years old and speak Portuguese. Study participants will complete a series of assessments for factors that have been linked to ADRD. These include study visits involving questionnaires, cognitive tests, physical exams, and blood tests.

call: (973) 972- 5008
brainy.nj.study@rutgers.edu

The Department of Kinesiology & Health is looking to recruit people for a study to understand if a single bout of exercise and/or insulin can improve brain health. In this study, brain images will be taken to determine brain blood flow before and after intranasal insulin use. Engagement in the study is expected to last less than 2 months.

We look to enroll people who are 40-80 years old, not currently exercising routinely and are non-smoking. People will receive at no cost measures of aerobic fitness, body composition, metabolism, cognition and vascular health.

Compensation is up  to $300.

For more information, e-mail our team at: amp.lab@kines.rutgers.edu.

Background: The Department of Kinesiology & Health is looking to recruit people for a National Institutes of Health study to understand the role of blood measured extracellular vesicles as new biomarkers for cardiovascular health. We are looking to recruit: 1) people with lean body weight; 2) people with obesity; 3) people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

People should be between the ages of 40-70 years old, and who are non-smoking and not currently exercising on a routine basis. People will receive at no cost measures of aerobic fitness, body composition, metabolism, cognition and vascular health. People with obesity will undergo in-person exercise training for 16 weeks at Rutgers, with tests performed again after training.

Compensation is up to $500.

For more information and to see if you qualify, fill out our pre-screening questionnaire at https://redcap.link/4nx8fesl or e-mail our team: amp.lab@kines.rutgers.edu.

PI: Steven Malin, MPI: Michal Schnaider Beeri, MPI: Mary Sano, Co-I: Fred Kobylarz, Co-I:David Zald, Co-I: Liangyuan Hu, Lead site: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Other sites:Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The Miller Lab is recruiting adults 60 years of age and older for a research study on Early Biomarkers of Cognitive Decline.

You may be eligible for this study if:

1. You are 60 years of age or older
2. You are cognitively healthy or cognitively impaired (including Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia)
3. You speak English
4. You can travel to the Rutgers Campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway.

If you are eligible and agree to participate, you will be asked to complete three in-person appointments, approximately one hour each:

1. Consent and a cognitive function assessment
2. Video recording of the blood vessels in the eye and a fasting blood draw
3. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scan

Participants will receive a $50 gift card for completing the study.
Thank you for considering this research opportunity. If you have any questions, please contact us at miller.lab@sebs.rutgers.edu.