Recruiting

Brain imaging study to detect inflammation in memory loss

Plain-English translation of NCT07169630 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated October 2026 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

This research study is looking for signs of brain inflammation in people with memory loss or Alzheimer's disease. Researchers will use special imaging scans (PET and MRI) to take pictures of your brain and look for a protein called PDE4B, which may indicate inflammation. The study compares findings in people with memory problems to healthy volunteers without memory issues.

Doctors believe that brain inflammation may play a role in memory loss and Alzheimer's disease, but they don't yet have a good way to detect it in living patients. This study aims to develop imaging techniques that could one day help identify inflammation early, potentially leading to better treatments.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 50 years old
you have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (memory loss) or Alzheimer's disease by a neurologist or psychiatrist, or you are a healthy volunteer with no memory problems
you are in generally good health
you are able to understand the study and willing to sign an informed consent form (or have a legally authorized representative do so)
you are able to travel to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Maryland
you can lie flat and still for at least two hours for the imaging scans

You likely don't qualify if…

you have taken non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the past two weeks or certain other medications like aspirin, steroids, or immunosuppressants in the past month
you have other serious brain or medical conditions that could affect thinking and memory
you have an unstable medical condition, active infection, or untreated cancer
you have a substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder
you have had recent radiation exposure from other research studies that would exceed safe limits when combined with this study

What participation looks like

You will visit the NIH for testing appointments where you'll have two special brain imaging scans (a PET scan and an MRI scan) and one standard MRI scan of your brain. You'll also have blood drawn to measure certain proteins, and you'll complete memory and thinking tests. The study is designed as a one-time or short-term evaluation; the exact duration and number of visits will depend on the specific study schedule.

Brain imaging study to detect inflammation in memory loss

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)