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Alzheimer’s Research

State of Florida Brain Bank – Searching for the Answers (Protocol #97-82-H-11)
1Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (Protocol #20-22-H-07/UofF)
Longitudinal Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease Study (LEADS) (NIA) (Protocol #20-46-H-12/IREx)
Memory Screening Studies on Healthy Aging (Protocol #01-61-H-08)
Biomarkers and Rates of Progression in Rapidly Progressive Dementia (Bio-RaPID; NIA-Funded)
CuidaTEXT Latino Dementia Caregiver Support Study (NIA-Funded)

State of Florida Brain Bank — Searching for the Answers (Funded by the State of Florida, Department of Elder Affairs, Protocol #97-82-H-11)

Brain donation is one of the most important ways to confirm the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. It is also essential for advancing research into how these conditions are diagnosed and treated.

If someone close to you has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another memory disorder, the State of Florida Brain Bank can make all the necessary arrangements for brain donation. This process confirms the diagnosis and contributes significantly to scientific understanding and progress.

Individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease — as well as those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that may precede Alzheimer’s — are especially valuable to research.

At the time of death, we will coordinate transportation and brain removal at no cost to the family. A comprehensive pathology report will also be provided — again, at no cost.

If you have any further questions or need more details about this study, please contact Josalen Gondrez at 305.674.2018 or Josalen.GondrezVentura@msmc.com.

1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC; NIA-Funded, Protocol #20-22-H-07/UofF)

Would you like to take part in a research study exploring how brain imaging, blood tests, spinal fluid analysis, and evaluations of memory, thinking, and daily functioning can help identify Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage?

The Wien Center, in collaboration with several Florida universities, is conducting a study to determine how these tests can best detect Alzheimer’s disease in its earliest stages.

To participate, you must be over 45 years old and have a study partner — someone who knows you well and can report changes in your memory and daily functioning.

What’s involved:

  • First year: amyloid PET scan, MRI, blood draw, physical and neurological exam, and memory/thinking tests
  • Subsequent years: annual follow-up exams and cognitive testing (as long as the study is funded)

You and your study partner will be reimbursed for your time.

For more information, please contact Karen Velasquez de Lopez at 305.674.2101 or Karen.VelasquezDeLopez@msmc.com.

Longitudinal Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS; NIA-Funded, Protocol #20-46-H-12/IREx)

Do you want to participate in a study to compare the genetic, biological, and clinical processes between early and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD)? Much is already known about the more common AD that develops after the age of 65, but little is known about AD that starts before the age of 65, also known as early onset AD.

You may qualify for this study if you are between the ages of 40 and 64 and have either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia suspected to be caused by Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, you must be fluent in English and have a family member, friend, or caregiver who can provide additional information about your memory and lifestyle.

You will have genetic counseling, medical and neurologic exams, cognitive testing, biofluid sample collection (blood and optional spinal fluid samples), and neuroimaging (MRI and PET scans) for up to four years.

You and your caregiver will be reimbursed for your time.

For more information, please call 305.674.2037 or contact Yaimara Gonzalez Pineiro at Yaimara.GonzalezPineiro@msmc.com.

Memory Screening Studies on Healthy Aging (Protocol #01-61-H-08)

Are you worried that your memory is not what it used to be? Take advantage of a free memory screening to determine if further evaluation is needed. Participants must be at least 50 years of age. Screenings are available at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4302 Alton Road, #650, Miami Beach, FL 33140, by appointment only. Please call 305.674.2037 for more information.

Biomarkers and Rates of Progression in Rapidly Progressive Dementia (Bio-RaPID; NIA-Funded)

To qualify, patients must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Have rapidly progressive dementia (less than one year from first symptom to dementia diagnosis)

OR

  • Have experienced less than two years from first symptom to incapacitation, suspected to be due to Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia

In addition, participants must:

  • Have a reliable study partner
  • Be willing to travel to the Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, Fla.)
  • Be willing to complete study procedures, including blood draws, MRI, PET scan, and lumbar puncture (LP)

Ranjan Duara, MD, and his team at the Wien Center will screen potential participants for referral to the Bio-RaPID study. The study will provide transportation and pay for all study procedures.

For more information, please contact 305.674.2037 or Josalen Gondrez at 305.674.2018 or Josalen.GondrezVentura@msmc.com.

CuidaTEXT Latino Dementia Caregiver Support Study (NIA-Funded)

The CuidaTEXT research study is testing the effects of a text message–based support program for Latino caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. The Wien Center will screen potential participants to determine eligibility. Qualified caregivers will be enrolled by research staff at the University of Kansas.

Participants will receive daily, automated text messages for six months, tailored to the needs of Latino caregivers. The goal is to provide emotional support and reduce caregiver stress.

Caregivers will be reimbursed for their time. 

For more information, please contact 305.674.2037 or Idaly Velez Uribe at 305.674.2037 or Idaly.VelezUribe2@msmc.com.

Published Research from the Wien Center at Mount Sinai: 2021 to Current

Peer-Review Papers:

  1. Wang WE, Chen R, Mayrand RP, Adjouadi M, Fang R, DeKosky ST, Duara R, Coombes SA, Vaillancourt DE; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Association of longitudinal cognitive decline with diffusion MRI in Gray Matter, Amyloid, and Tau deposition. Neurobiol Aging. 2023 Jan;121:166-178.
  2. Greig Custo MT, Lang MK, Barker WW, Gonzalez J, Vélez-Uribe I, Arruda F, Conniff J, Rodriguez MJ, Loewenstein DA, Duara R, Adjouadi M, Curiel RE, Rosselli M. The association of depression and apathy with Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in a cross-cultural sample. Appl Neuropsychol Adult. 2022 Jun 28:1-17.
  3. Moloney CM, Labuzan SA, Crook JE, Siddiqui H, Castanedes-Casey M, Lachner C, Petersen RC, Duara R, Graff-Radford NR, Dickson DW, Mielke MM, Murray ME. Phosphorylated tau sites that are elevated in Alzheimer’s disease fluid biomarkers are visualized in early neurofibrillary tangle maturity levels in the post mortem brain. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Aug 3. doi: 10.1002/alz.12749
  4. Shojaie M, Cabrerizo M, DeKosky ST, Vaillancourt DE, Loewenstein D, Duara R, Adjouadi M. A transfer learning approach based on gradient boosting machine for diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Oct 5;14:966883. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.966883. 
  5. Moloney CM, Labuzan SA, Crook JE, Siddiqui H, Castanedes-Casey M, Lachner C, Petersen RC, Duara R, Graff-Radford NR, Dickson DW, Mielke MM, Murray ME. Phosphorylated tau sites that are elevated in Alzheimer’s disease fluid biomarkers are visualized in early neurofibrillary tangle maturity levels in the post mortem brain. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Aug 3. doi: 10.1002/alz.12749.
  6. Rundek T, Del Brutto VJ, Goryawala M, Dong C, Agudelo C, Saporta AS, Merritt S, Camargo C, Ariko T, Loewenstein DA, Duara R, Haq I. Associations Between Vascular Risk Factors and Perivascular Spaces in Adults with Intact Cognition, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia. J Alzheimers Dis. 2022;89(2):437-448.
  7. Rodriguez MJ, Burke S, Padron D, Duarte A, Rosselli M, Grieg-Custo M, Grudzien A, Loewenstein DA, Duara R. Associations Between Country where Education is Obtained and Cognitive Functioning Among South American and Caribbean Older Adults Living in the U.S. J Cross Cult Gerontol. 2022 Sep;37(3):257-274. doi: 10.1007/s10823-022-09456-0.
  8. Tabarestani S, Eslami M, Cabrerizo M, Curiel RE, Barreto A, Rishe N, Vaillancourt D, DeKosky ST, Loewenstein DA, Duara R, Adjouadi M. A Tensorized Multitask Deep Learning Network for Progression Prediction of Alzheimer’s Disease. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 May 6;14:810873.
  9. Duara R, Barker W. Heterogeneity in Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis and Progression Rates: Implications for Therapeutic Trials. Neurotherapeutics. 2022 Jan;19(1):8-25.
  10. DeKosky ST, Duara R. The Broad Range of Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Neurotherapeutics. 2022 Jan;19(1):1-7.
  11. Morar U, Izquierdo W, Martin H, Forouzannezhad P, Zarafshan E, Unger E, Bursac Z, Cabrerizo M, Barreto A, Vaillancourt DE, DeKosky ST, Loewenstein D, Duara R, Adjouadi M. A study of the longitudinal changes in multiple cerebrospinal fluid and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers on converter and non-converter Alzheimer’s disease subjects with consideration for their amyloid beta status. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2022 Feb 23;14(1):e12258. 
  12. Kurasz AM, Smith GE, Curiel RE, Barker WW, Behar RC, Ramirez A, Armstrong MJ. Patient values in healthcare decision making among diverse older adults. Patient Educ Couns. 2022 May;105(5):1115-1122.
  13. Shojaie M, Tabarestani S, Cabrerizo M, DeKosky ST, Vaillancourt DE, Loewenstein D, Duara R, Adjouadi M. PET Imaging of Tau Pathology and Amyloid-β, and MRI for Alzheimer’s Disease Feature Fusion and Multimodal Classification. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;84(4):1497-1514.
  14. Crist AM, Hinkle KM, Wang X, Moloney CM, Matchett BJ, Labuzan SA, Frankenhauser I, Azu NO, Liesinger AM, Lesser ER, Serie DJ, Quicksall ZS, Patel TA, Carnwath TP, DeTure M, Tang X, Petersen RC, Duara R, Graff-Radford NR, Allen M, Carrasquillo MM, Li H, Ross OA, Ertekin-Taner N, Dickson DW, Asmann YW, Carter RE, Murray ME. Transcriptomic analysis to identify genes associated with selective hippocampal vulnerability in Alzheimer’s disease. Nat Commun. 2021 Apr 19;12(1):2311.
  15. Kitaigorodsky M, Curiel Cid RE, Crocco E, Gorman KL, González-Jiménez CJ, Greig-Custo M, Barker WW, Duara R, Loewenstein DA. Changes in LASSI-L performance over time among older adults with amnestic MCI and amyloid positivity: A preliminary study. J Psychiatr Res. 2021 Nov;143:98-105.
  16. Kitaigorodsky M, Crocco E, Curiel-Cid RE, Leal G, Zheng D, Eustache MK, Greig-Custo MT, Barker W, Duara R, Loewenstein DA. The relationship of semantic intrusions to different etiological subtypes of MCI and cognitively healthy older adults. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2021 May 25;13(1):e12192.
  17. Barker W, Quinonez C, Greig MT, Behar R, Chirinos C, Rodriguez RA, Rosselli M, Rodriguez MJ, Cid RC, Rundek T, McFarland K, Hanson K, Smith G, DeKosky S, Vaillancourt D, Adjouadi M, Marsiske M, Ertekin-Taner N, Golde T, Loewenstein DA, Duara R. Utility of Plasma Neurofilament Light in the 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;79(1):59-70.
  18. Arruda F, Rosselli M, Greig MT, Loewenstein DA, Lang M, Torres VL, Vélez-Uribe I, Conniff J, Barker WW, Curiel RE, Adjouadi M, Duara R. The Association Between Functional Assessment and Structural Brain Biomarkers in an Ethnically Diverse Sample With Normal Cognition, Mild Cognitive Impairment, or Dementia. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2021 Jan 15;36(1):51-61.
  19. Rouse HJ, Small BJ, Schinka JA, Loewenstein DA, Duara R, Potter H. Mild behavioral impairment as a predictor of cognitive functioning in older adults. Int Psychogeriatr. 2021 Mar;33(3):285-293.
  20. Zheng DD, Curiel Cid RE, Duara R, Kitaigorodsky M, Crocco E, Loewenstein DA. Semantic intrusion errors as a function of age, amyloid, and volumetric loss: a confirmatory path analysis. Int Psychogeriatr. 2021 Jan 18:1-11.
  21. Crocco EA, Curiel Cid R, Kitaigorodsky M, Grau GA, Garcia JM, Duara R, Barker W, Chirinos CL, Rodriguez R, Loewenstein DA. Intrusion Errors and Progression of Cognitive Deficits in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and PreMCI States. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2021 Jun 23:1-8.
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