LEADS Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study

To move toward more effective treatments, scientists need to understand the genetic, biological and clinical processes involved in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (also called younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease). The Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS) will explore the development of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and how it compares to the more common late-onset Alzheimer’s variant.

Why LEADS matters

Alzheimer’s disease is a national crisis, with nearly 7 million Americans living with the disease and over 11 million friends and family serving as caregivers. In addition, as many as 200,000 individuals with Alzheimer’s in the United States are under age 65, living with the younger-onset form of the disease.

LEADS is designed to learn about early-onset Alzheimer’s disease on a number of levels:

What cognitive impairments are part of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease? How quickly do they develop?

What are the genetic causes of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease?

Can early-onset Alzheimer’s be identified by brain scans and/or samples of blood and spinal fluid?

Study eligibility

Individuals with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease (including mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease and probable Alzheimer’s disease dementia) and those without Alzheimer’s can potentially participate in LEADS. You may be eligible if:

You are between the ages of 40 and 64.
You are fluent in English.
You are in good general health and have not experienced another neurologic disorder.
You have a family member, friend or caregiver who can provide additional information about your lifestyle.

Study participation

Ongoing participation is critical to the success of LEADS. Participants with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease will attend three study visits over two years, and participants without Alzheimer’s disease will participate for two visits over one year. Each study visit will be split across multiple days.

Activities include:

General medical and neurologic exams

Cognitive testing

Biofluid sample collection (blood and optional spinal fluid samples)

Neuroimaging (MRI and PET scans)

Locations

LEADS is enrolling participants at research sites across the country. If you are ready to take the next step, view the listing of locations to find contact information for the site closest to you. Do you have a question about LEADS? Call us at 877.385.3237 (877.38LEADS).

Without clinical trials, there can be no better treatments, no prevention and no cure for Alzheimer's disease.
Learn more about the background of the LEADS study at LEADS-study.org.

LEADS Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study

Why LEADS matters

Study eligibility

Interested in enrolling in LEADS?

Study participation

Locations