AMI Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Alzheimer Metabolic Imaging Study (AMI Study) - Does metabolic function correlate in brain tissue and peripheral tissue in patients with MCI/Alzheimer’s disease and controls?
IRAS ID
304402
Contact name
Simon Bell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
Cognitive impairment is a common problem which can lead to dementia. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. One of the problems in many types of memory impairment is that patients develop problems with how their cells make energy. It is very difficult to look at how brain cells make energy on a single cell basis, because it is difficult to access these cells. We can however investigate energy production from skin cells on a single cell basis. Recently in Sheffield, we have developed a way at looking at how the brain uses energy by performing brain scans called phosphorous spectroscopy and positron emission tomography magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI). The measurement we get from the brain scan is similar to the energy production readings we get when taking measurements from skin cells. For the development of future treatments targeted on energy production, in patients with dementia and cognitive impairment, knowing how the changes in skin cell energy production are related to brain scans that measure energy usage in brain cells would be very useful.
In this study, we would like to ask people with memory problems to have both the phosphorous spectroscopy brain scan and the PET-MRI scan measuring energy metabolism. We will then perform skin biopsy so we can compare the changes we see in skin cell energy usage to the changes we see in brain cell energy usage on brain scans. Finally, as part of this study we may also ask patients to give a sample of blood, or spinal fluid as this will help us to characterise the changes in energy metabolism we see more thoroughly.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
22/WA/0132
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion