---
title: Differentiate dementias using brain imaging
nct_id: NCT03019757
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: Douglas Scharre
study_type: OBSERVATIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT03019757"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03019757"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:06:03.044Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Differentiate dementias using brain imaging

**Goal (in five words):** Differentiate dementias using brain imaging

**Official Title:** Distinguishing Between Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, and Parkinson's Disease

**Trial ID:** [NCT03019757](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03019757)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** OBSERVATIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Douglas Scharre
- **Target Enrollment:** 76 participants
- **Start Date:** 2018-08-30
- **Completion Date:** 2026-12
- **Conditions:** Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's Disease
- **Interventions:** DaTscan, F18-AV-45, FDG-PET, APOE genotype, Polysomnogram, Clinical Assessment
- **Intervention Types:** RADIATION, GENETIC, PROCEDURE, BEHAVIORAL

## Summary For Families

The trial aims to help doctors tell Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson’s disease apart, because they can look similar but have different causes and treatments. It combines brain scans and tests to find distinct patterns, using DaTscan to measure dopamine transporter loss that points to Parkinsonian syndromes, F18-AV-45 amyloid PET to detect Alzheimer plaques, FDG-PET to map abnormal brain metabolism, APOE genotyping for Alzheimer risk, overnight polysomnography to detect REM sleep behavior disorder common in Lewy body disease, and detailed clinical and cognitive exams. Adults 18 and older who meet standard clinical criteria for one of these diagnoses, have an MMSE of 10 or higher, are on stable cognitive or psychoactive medications for at least four weeks, and have a study partner in regular contact are eligible. People with other medical causes of dementia, severe kidney impairment, pregnancy, less than 12 years of education, non,English first language, or prior exposure to an amyloid-targeting drug (unless only placebo) are excluded.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects must meet the standard clinical criteria of the syndromes of interest
* All subjects must have enough cognitive abilities to complete study procedures, which will be operationally defined as having a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score greater or equal to 10.
* Subjects must be on stable cognitive and psychoactive medication regimen for the preceding four weeks of enrollment.
* Subjects must have a responsible study partner that either lives with them or is in regular contact with them at least 4 out of 7 days per week.
* Subjects must have visual and auditory acuity adequate for testing.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any other condition (other than the primary diagnosis), which in the opinion of the investigators might contribute to the syndrome of dementia or complicate its assessment.
* active medical disorder that could preclude participation in this protocol
* Women who are pregnant or are breast feeding
* severe renal impairment as defined by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 30 (may have increased radiation exposure with the DaTscan).
* Subjects in whom English is not the 1st language
* Subjects with educational level less than 12 years
* Subjects who have ever participated in an experimental study with an amyloid targeting agent unless it can be documented that the subject received only placebo during the course of the trial.
```

## Locations (1)

- The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States _(39.9612, -82.9988)_
  - Jennifer Icenhour — (CONTACT) — 614-293-6882 — jennifer.icenhour@osumc.edu

## Central Contacts

- Jennifer Icenhour — (CONTACT) — 614-293-6882 — jennifer.icenhour@osumc.edu

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT03019757*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT03019757*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03019757*