NCT05231798 · Phase 2 · RECRUITING
Cholinergic Integrity in Down Syndrome in Association With Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, and Cognition
This trial uses a specialized PET scan radiotracer called FEOBV to measure the health of cholinergic neurons — the brain cells most consistently damaged in Alzheimer's disease — in adults with Down syndrome. Researchers want to understand how that damage relates to aging and cognitive changes in Down syndrome. This is a Phase 2 pilot study, meaning it is gathering early data to shape future research, not testing a treatment.
You may qualify if
- Diagnosis of Down syndrome (DS), including mosaic DS or partial trisomy 21.
- Provision of signed and dated informed consent form and if needed, assent with signed consent by a legally authorized representative (LAR).
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
- Male or female, aged 18-55 inclusive.
- In good general health as evidenced by medical history with no diagnosis of dementia.
- Permitted CNS-active medications, stable in dose for at least 4 weeks or longer. If new medications have been started, the medical monitoring team will review on case-by-case basis to recommend timing of baseline cognitive testing
- Adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing
- For females who are not surgically sterile or post-menopausal by two years: negative pregnancy test 24 hours prior to PET scan.
- Mental Age of 4 years or greater (based upon the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, 2nd Edition)
- English must be first/native language
- Reliable Study Partner (may be caregiver, sibling, parent) who can provide information about the subject's clinical symptoms and history
You're excluded if
- Any significant disease or unstable medical condition that could affect neuropsychological testing (i.e., unstable cardiac problems, chronic renal failure, chronic hepatic disease, severe pulmonary disease)
- Participants in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is contraindicated including, but not limited to, those with a pacemaker, presence of metallic fragments near the eyes or spinal cord, or cochlear implant (Dental fillings do not present a risk for MRI)
- Participants unable to complete MRI and PET procedures
- IQ less than 40 (as assessed by Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition (KBIT-2).
- Pregnancy, breast-feeding
- History within the last 5 years of a primary or recurrent malignant disease with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancers, resected cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in situ, basal cell carcinoma, cervical carcinoma in situ, or in situ prostate cancer with normal prostate-specific antigen post-treatment
- Clinically significant abnormalities in B12 or TFTs that might interfere with the study. A low B12 is exclusionary unless follow-up labs (homocysteine (HC) and methylmalonic acid (MMA)) indicate that it is not physiologically significant. A high TSH is exclusionary unless follow-up T3/T4 levels indicate that it is not physiologically significant.
- Clinically significant abnormalities in screening laboratories
- For participants undergoing CSF collection: a current blood clotting or bleeding disorder, or significantly abnormal PT or PTT at screening or if on anti-coagulation (e.g warfarin)
- Participants whom the Site PI deems to be otherwise ineligible
- Clinical diagnosis of dementia
- Concurrent participation in a clinical trial for an investigational product or concurrent participation in a longitudinal study with overlapping outcome measures/procedures is prohibited
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-05-19