DELCODE
DZNE – Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study
Background and aims
One of the important aims of research into Alzheimer's is to find ways of detecting the disease early – if at all possible, as soon as the first minor symptoms appear, or even before any symptoms at all have appeared. Such detection capabilities are the necessary basis for development of therapies that can be applied at such early stages in the disease. Recent research indicates that such therapies could be more effective than therapies initiated during the disease's later stages. Over a period of several years, the DELCODE study is studying persons in early stages of the disease, along with various risk groups. The research is aimed at the development of procedures for characterizing early stages of the disease, at improving prediction of the course of the disease and at identifying new markers for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's-related dementia.
Overview
DELCODE is set up to run for an initial period of three years, and to include a total of 1,000 study participants, who will be examined on a yearly basis. The group of participants will include persons with no complaints (healthy control subjects), patients with slight memory impairment or mild dementia and first-degree relatives of patients with diagnosed Alzheimer's disease. The minimum age for participants is 60.
Course of the study
The examinations in the framework of the study will include a comprehensive interview carried out by a study investigator, a detailed neuropsychological examination (testing of memory functions and other areas of cognitive performance), a blood test and a cranial MRI scan. Optionally, subject to the study participant's consent in each case, a lumbar puncture (collection of cerebrospinal fluid) will be carried out.
A full set of information about the study can be downloaded here (in German only): Flyer DELOCDE
Principle Investigator: Prof. Dr. Frank Jessen
Start of the study: 2014
Status: multi centric, ongoing, recruiting completed
Berlin
Bonn
DZNE
Zentrum für Klinische Forschung
Local principle investigator:
Dr. Annika Spottke
Local contact:
DZNE
Universitätsklinikum Bonn - Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Local principle investigator:
Prof. Dr. Anja Schneider
Local contact:
Göttingen
DZNE
Universitätsmedizin Göttingen - Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Local principle investigator:
Prof. Dr. Jens Wiltfang
Local contact:
Cologne
DZNE
Uniklinik Köln - Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Local principle investigator::
Prof. Dr. Frank Jessen
Local contact:
Magdeburg
Munich
DZNE
Klinikum der Universität München - Institut für Schlaganfall- und Demenzforschung (ISD)
Local principle investigator:
PD Dr. Katharina Bürger
Local contact:
DZNE
Klinikum der Universität München - Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Local principle investigator:
Prof. Dr. Robert Perneczky
Local contact:
Rostock/Greifswald
DZNE
Universitätsklinikum Rostock - Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapeutische Medizin, Zentrum für Nervenheilkunde
Local principle investigator:
Prof. Stefan Teipel
Local contact:
Tübingen
DZNE
Universitätsklinikum Tübingen - Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Local principle investigator:
Prof. Dr. Christoph Laske
Local contact: