Amyloid Plaque and Tangle Imaging in Aging and Dementia

A total of 194 volunteers will be recruited for this 2-year study. Participants will receive
a baseline clinical and imaging evaluation and one follow-up evaluation two years later.
These evaluations will include clinical and neuropsychological assessments, structural MRI
and/or PET scans. Additional scans and scanning procedures will be performed on a subset of
participants and participant visits, including serotonin density levels.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Agreement to participate in a clinical and brain imaging study

- Age 30 years or older

- No significant cerebrovascular disease - modified Ischemic Score of ≤ 4

- For volunteers with MCI or dementia, there must be a family member or potential
caregiver available

- Adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing

- Screening laboratory tests and ECG without significant abnormalities that might
interfere with the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Evidence of neurologic or other physical illness that could produce cognitive
deterioration; in addition to a physical and neurological examination, volunteers will
be screened for Parkinson's disease

- History of myocardial infarction within the previous year or unstable cardiac disease

- Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP>170 or diastolic BP>100), history of
significant liver disease, clinically significant pulmonary disease, diabetes, or
cancer

- Major psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia

- Because medications can affect cognitive functioning, volunteers needing medicines
that could influence psychometric test results will be excluded; use of any of the
following drugs will also exclude volunteers: centrally active beta-blockers,
narcotics, clonidine, anti-Parkinsonian medications, benzodiazepines, systemic
corticosteroids, and medications with significant cholinergic or anticholinergic
effects, anti-convulsants, or warfarin

- Current diagnosis or history of alcoholism or drug dependence

- Evidence of untreated depression as determined by a HAM-D (Hamilton, 1960) score of ≥
12 (17-item version) or untreated anxiety by a score of ≥ 8 on the Hamilton Anxiety
Scale (HAM-A; Hamilton, 1959)

- Use of any investigational drugs within the previous month or longer, depending on
drug half-life

- Contraindication for MRI scan (e.g., metal in body, claustrophobia)