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The Sunnybrook Dementia Study

NCT01800214 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 1800

Last updated 2026-02-25

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The prospect of disease-modifying therapies in the pipeline for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has intensified efforts to use brain imaging more effectively for diagnosis and monitoring of dementing illnesses. There is also emerging awareness of the destructive interplay between AD and Cerebrovascular Disease (CVD) in our aging population; both disorders share common vascular risk factors and may respond to similar prevention treatments. Brain mapping techniques capitalize on the fact that different neurodegenerative diseases target particular brain areas. Brain shrinkage and stroke disease can be quantified on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) using computerized analysis.

This ongoing study applies advanced MR imaging analysis, genetic testing and standardized cognitive and functional assessments done at yearly intervals to measure and monitor longitudinal change in patients with AD, vascular and other neurodegenerative diseases and potentially to measure modifying effects of emerging therapies. Nearly 1800 patients (Mild Cognitive Impairment or dementia from AD, Vascular, Frontotemporal or Lewy Body Disease) and over 140 normal elderly have already been enrolled, with 180 autopsies.

This study utilizes specialized imaging analysis software packages to reliably quantify brain tissue volumes and small vessel disease, the most common type of CVD.

The SDS also investigates other potential biomarkers of dementia such as eye-tracking, optical coherence tomography, gait and balance, and the gut microbiome to explore their clinical utility.

Results from this study will help to improve diagnosis, to customize treatment, and to better monitor disease-modifying therapies currently under investigation should they become applicable to everyday practice.

Conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Toronto

    collaborator OTHER

  • Sunnybrook Research Institute

    collaborator OTHER

  • University of Waterloo

    collaborator OTHER

  • Baycrest

    collaborator OTHER

  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Sandra E Black, MD · Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Eligibility

Min Age
40 Years
Max Age
90 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
1995-09-30
Primary Completion
2026-07-31
Completion
2026-09-30

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01800214 on ClinicalTrials.gov