Project details

Summary

What is the study about?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which currently affects 1 in 14 people over the age 65, and 1 in 5 over the age of 80.

In AD, symptoms such as memory loss are caused by a build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain, called amyloid and tau, which affect normal brain function. While there are no treatments available today which would slow the progress of the disease, early identification is important for people living with AD and their families. 

Research has shown that in people with AD, amyloid and tau also gather in the hearing (auditory) system. We would expect these abnormal proteins to affect the way the auditory system responds to sounds. 

What are you trying to find out?

We want to investigate how sounds are processed along the auditory pathway in normal healthy ageing and at various stages in people living with AD. This would help us to understand whether early and measurable changes are found in people living with AD, which can be used to help us predict who is at risk of developing dementia.

What does taking part involve?

If you agree to take part, you will be asked to sign the informed consent form. You will also be asked to donate a blood sample for group characterisation purposes. This part is completely optional, you do not have to donate any blood if you do not want to.

If you have a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) caused by probable Alzheimer's disease: With your permission, we would like to access some medical records that have previously been collected on you as part of your routine clinical care. This will include your cognitive test results and results from your cerebrospinal fluid examination, if you have one. We may need to undertake further cognitive tests (questionnaires to assess your memory, thinking and reasoning skills) if these have not been completed routinely. This should take no longer than 30 minutes. 

You will then be invited to visit our Hearing Research Laboratories (Ellen Wilkinson building, University of Manchester) for a 2.5-hour hearing test, which can be split over 2 sessions if required. During this session(s) you will answer some basic background information and undertake various tests which measure different parts of the hearing system. All tasks will be administered by a fully trained researcher, and breaks will be frequently offered. Some tasks are automatic and don’t require any response from you, whereas others you will need to concentrate and respond to the best of your ability. A task may be stopped at any time if you do not wish to continue. 

You may be asked to return for repeat testing in 2 years. Again, it is up to you if you would like to take part again at this stage. 

Who is it for?

We would love to speak with you if you are:

• Aged over 55
• Have no diagnosed hearing loss
• Happy to visit the hearing labs on Oxford Road, Manchester

We are looking for participants who have no subjective memory complaints (as controls) and those who have a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) caused by probable Alzheimer's Disease. 

Why is it important? 

Your participation in this research delivers wider benefits society and in particular to others who are at risk of AD. It may help us in the future to identify which patients are at an increased risk of developing AD, and aid in early diagnosis. You will also have comprehensive hearing assessment undertaken, and any issues will be identified to you with a letter to take to your GP.

How can I find out more?

You can find out more information about taking part in this study by downloading the key documents at the top of this page.

If you are interested in taking part in this study, or have questions for the research team, click the button below to email us:

Email the research team