NCT07021040 · RECRUITING
Olfactory Biopsies
This study is collecting small tissue samples from the nasal lining to examine how the smell system changes in Alzheimer's disease compared to healthy people. Researchers will also run smell tests and odor stimulation during the visit. It is not a treatment trial — it is observational research designed to understand whether the olfactory tissue looks or behaves differently in people who have AD biomarkers or a diagnosis. Details on scale and timeline are limited so far.
Eligibility criteria
Group 1: Alzheimer's study Inclusion Criteria: * Between the ages of 18 and 80 * Pre-clinical AD (this cohort consists of subjects who have normal cognitive testing and function, but have positive AD biomarkers); * Symptomatic AD (a confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer's or dementia who are capable of understanding and signing the consent document) Exclusion Criteria: * Advanced Alzheimer's/dementia * Self-reported or known allergy to Afrin or Tetracain HCL (or related class of drugs) * Active Rhinosinusitis symptoms * Other known sinonasal disease history that would preclude biopsy (i.e prior sinus or skull base surgery directly impacting this anatomic region, sinonasal neoplasm in this anatomic region, olfactory cleft polyps) * Parkinson's disease * Unable or willing to complete the nasal endoscopy procedure. * Unable to read or speak English * Unable to provide legally effective consent Group 2: Act-seq study or Non-AD controls Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older * Patients being seen for rhinology or olfactory disorders * Patients having unrelated endoscopic nasal surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Self-reported or known allergy to Afrin or Tetracain HCL (or related class of drugs) * Unable or willing to complete the nasal endoscopy procedure * Unable to read or speak English * Unable to provide legally effective consent
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 2026-06-12