Blood Biomarker of Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

mtDNA Damage in Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

Currently, no cures or disease modifying therapies exist for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This is partially due to the inability to detect the disease before it has progressed to a stage where there are clinical manifestations. The identification and validation of high throughput biomarkers to measure disease progression (as well as identify pre-clinical disease onset) is critical to the development of disease-modifying or even preventative therapies. In this study, we are testing a blood biomarker for stratification of Alzheimer's disease patients and healthy volunteers. This study may lead to future blood tests that may help earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and detect the disease progression.

Inclusion Criteria:

Alzheimer's Disease Patients:

• 50 years and older
• AD patient who is seen at the Memory Disorders Clinic
• AD diagnosis
• Non smoking
• No cancer treatment in the last 5 years
• Informed consent from the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative (LAR)
• Patient and/or LAR able to read and speak English

Healthy Control Participants:

• 50 years and older
• Non smoking
• No cancer treatment in the last 5 years
• Age matched to AD subject
• Able to read and speak English

Exclusion Criteria:

Alzheimer's Disease Patients:

• Known additional neurological disease

Healthy Control Participants:

• Neurological degenerative diseases (such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or Huntington's)