The Cognitive Resilience Study

The objective is to establish the feasibility and evaluate the role of two novel tests of
cognitive resilience for use in identification of early Alzheimer's Disease. The
investigators hypothesize that exposure to the controlled stressor of increased cognitive
task demand will evoke measurable phenotypes of poor resilience, which will be associated
with Alzheimer's Disease risk. The study will include 30 volunteer participants from the
Duke Alzheimer's Disease Prevention Registry (ADPR). The ADPR cohort has been characterized
according to genetic risk based on genotype at loci associated with Alzheimer's Disease. The
investigators will recruit a sample from the ADPR that includes 15 people in the "genetic
high risk" group and 15 people, matched by age, in the "genetic low risk" group.
Investigators and experimenters are masked to the genetic profile of all participants. All
participants will undergo two cognitive stress test protocols. Both protocols include memory
and executive function components, one done during functional MRI and one while ambulating
on a force sensor mat. Both cognitive stress tests are minimal risk; the primary risk of
this study is loss of confidentiality. Genetic testing is not performed as part of this
protocol; the sampling strategy will make use of prior genetic testing results, which are
not revealed to the primary investigators. In addition to determining whether scores on the
two novel tests statistically differ by AD risk groups, the project will establish the
tests' feasibility and characteristics for use in future study.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Able to walk 2 minutes without assistive device or assistance from another person

- Cognitive function within normal limits

Exclusion Criteria:

- Unable to undergo MRI

- Left handed

- Red/Green Color Blind

- Severe vision impairments

- Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease or other dementia/memory problem