Telephone Cognitive Assessment for NCRAD

The goal of the National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD) is to help researchers identify the genes that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other related dementias. To help researchers achieve this goal, we implemented a new aspect of our study. In this article, we will share with you some of the details of this new protocol and how you and your family members might be able to participate.

Changes in memory can occur at any time, and in some instances may be an early sign of possible AD. There has been extensive research by a number of different scientists who have sought to study these early memory changes. NCRAD is eager to help scientists who want to better understand the relationship between normal memory changes and those changes that might precede AD or related dementias.

To help scientists perform these studies, NCRAD has selected a short series of memory tests that can be administered over the telephone. NCRAD coordinators will be contacting family members who are over the age of 60 and have donated blood samples to NCRAD. Due to the large number of families involved with NCRAD and the time required to complete the memory questions by telephone, we will be sending out notices to families on a rolling bases. So, individuals should not worry if they are not contacted immediately.

We are asking family members who may or may not have some memory difficulty to consider completing these brief memory tests. These questions will typically take about 20-30 minutes to complete, and are best completed when the individual is in a quiet location and will not be disturbed while the questions are being answered. Because this is part of a research study, we will not be able to provide individuals any results concerning their test performance or the performance of other family members.

It is only through the active participation of families with AD or related dementias that we will be able to unravel the genetics of dementia. NCRAD is very hopeful that the data we are able to collect through these memory tests will help increase the usefulness of the NCRAD study samples.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to call for an update on when your next cognitive assessment will take place, please feel free to contact NCRAD staff at 1-800-526-2839 or by email at alzstudy@iu.edu. If you are asking for an update, we may ask for your family number and/or your full name so that we may search our database.

Thank you!