The Alzheimer’s Plasma Extension (APEX) Study is a multicenter, observational study on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) related brain changes being conducted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the University of Southern California (USC) and at research centers across North America. Researchers will look at changes in blood tests, memory, and other factors that may predict who will accumulate brain amyloid over time, as well as factors that may help preserve memory and thinking in older individuals who do not develop elevated amyloid levels.
The APEX Study consists of one in-person visit every year for four years in which blood samples, memory tests, and questionnaires will be collected. Participation in this study will help researchers identify changes in blood tests, memory, and brain health that may occur years before people develop elevated brain amyloid and cognitive impairment and inform future clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease.
The first stages of APEX were funded by philanthropic gifts. ACTC has applied for grants to expand the APEX study through the National Institute on Aging, NIH.
ACTC Solution
APEX is a result of researchers who want to maximize the learnings from our existing studies. There is much to be learned from plasma tests, and ensuring we have inclusive groups of participants followed over time can broaden our understanding of what these tests mean. Expansions of APEX are planned by ACTC early-career investigators, providing important experience for the next generation of Alzheimer’s researchers.