The All-in-One Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Brief all-in-one diagnostic package to predict progression to Alzheimer dementia in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment.
IRAS ID
281006
Contact name
Laura Parkes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
What is Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?
Between 5 and 20% of people over 60 experience mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is defined as: decline over time in at least one cognitive area (e.g., memory, language, spatial orientation, or forward planning) that is confirmed by pen-and-paper testing. Patients with MCI do not have dementia – they are independent in activities of daily living - but often have the underlying diseases associated with dementia, like Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer disease is associated with deposits of Amyloid and Tau. Amyloid is a protein which builds up outside brain cells (neurons) before they begin to die but also accumulates with normal ageing. However, Tau builds up inside neurons only during certain disease processes, inevitably leading to cell death.Does MCI lead to dementia?
People with MCI are at an increased risk of developing dementia, although not all patients with MCI will ultimately progress to dementia. In those who do, progression is often very slow, sometimes taking 5 or 10 years until dementia is diagnosed. This causes huge uncertainty for future planning, often resulting in a feeling of disempowerment for patients, relatives and doctors.What do we want to do?
We will use combined blood markers, pen and paper tests and MRI scans to deliver standardised, blood-based estimates of brain Amyloid and Tau deposition, neuronal damage and genetic susceptibility in people with MCI. We aim to test the real-world usefulness and acceptability (to patients and clinicians) of this package of diagnostic tests. Our objective is to prove that such a package of tests is clinically useful and can be used across the NHS, in a cost-effective manner. Additionally, we are looking to see whether we can reduce the duration of time people need to spend in the MRI scanner to make the experience easier for people with MCI.REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
24/WA/0146
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion