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Researchers at The Australian National University and practitioners at More than Medicine (MtM) are undertaking a study to investigate whether frailty and brain differences are associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Overall, our aim is to discover more about how Alzheimer’s disease develops and determine potential modifiable risk factors of the disease. This will help us better understand what can be done to help prevent or delay the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease within the broader community.

In this study, we aim to recruit people with Alzheimer’s Disease attending MtM and a control group of people without AD of similar age and sex to investigate whether and how physical fitness contributes to disease onset. 

Primary participants

We are recruiting people who have been referred via their GP to the More than Medicine clinic, where they will be assessed for Alzheimer’s disease. If you are a new patient of the More than Medicine clinic and have received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, there may be an opportunity to participate in this study. In addition to the usual appointments with the team at More than Medicine, you will be asked to attend a one-hour appointment to complete three physical tests and three cognitive tests. We will also provide you with a referral to have a DEXA body composition scan conducted. We ask that a support person comes with you to your appointment and that they are happy to fill out a survey about your health and wellbeing.

For more information, please take a look over the documents below, or contact us at phielad.study@anu.edu.au with any questions:

• Participant Information Sheet—For Participants living with Alzheimer's Disease
• Consent Form for research participants living with Alzheimer's Disease
• Participant Information Sheet—For Participants supporting a person living with Alzheimer's Disease
• Consent Form for primary participant’s support person

Control participants

What does participation involve for control participants?

You need to be aged between 60-80 years old without a diagnosis or any known signs of AD.

Once consent provided, control participants will be asked to:

• Attend a single session (approx. one hour and 10 minutes) at MtM to:
  • Complete pre-screening for eligibility
  • Complete questionnaires that include information about background, medical history, mental health and wellbeing
  • Complete measures of physical health and cognitive abilities
• Attend Capital Pathology ACT to provide a small blood sample (approx. 15 minutes)
• Attend a radiology clinic to undertake a brain (MRI) and body composition (DEXA) scan (approx. 20-40 minutes each)

What’s in it for me?

Apart from helping progress important research we will share with you the body composition scan results, and you will receive a $50 gift card for each attended appointment to compensate for transport, time and effort in participating.

Yes, I am interested in participating:  Please read the Participant Information Sheet below and email your expression of interest to phielad.study@anu.edu.au:

• Participant Information Sheet—For Control group participants without Alzheimer’s Disease
• Consent Form for research participants (control group)
   

The ethical aspects of this research have been approved by the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocol 2024/1092)

Partners 

Supported by the Dementia Research and Prevention Fund at ANU and by More than Medicine.