Banner, Sun Health join groundbreaking study

Sun Health Research Institute and Banner Alzheimer’s Institute today announced that they have been selected as national Phase III sites involved in a ground-breaking medical imaging study to detect Alzheimer’s disease in its earliest stages.  

 This AV-45 study using medical imaging technology will visualize protein deposits in normal and Alzheimer’s diseased brains, enabling scientists to take the next step in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease and distinguishing it from other causes of dementia.  Participants will undergo a simple brain scan to visualize the presence of amyloid accumulation.

“It is encouraging that AV-45 could potentially be used as a screening test for Alzheimer’s disease, leading to earlier treatment, preventative medicine, and lifestyle changes ultimately saving memories,” said Marwan Sabbagh, MD, chief medical/scientific officer at Sun Health Research Institute.

According to new estimates from the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million people in the United States are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, debilitating and deadly neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloid-beta protein plaques within the brain, which is toxic to brain cells.  The disease affects areas of the brain involved in memory, cognition, judgment, language and behavior.

“We encourage local patients and caregivers to learn more about enrollment in this study, as clinical research is vitally important to understanding how we can better treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease,” said Adam S. Fleischer, MD, associate director of brain imaging at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. “We are excited to be participating in this study.”

Typically, an Alzheimer's diagnosis is confirmed at autopsy. Novel medical imaging methods will greatly change the landscape in efforts to detect Alzheimer’s disease at its earliest stages.  By diagnosing Alzheimer’s earlier in patients, physicians and scientists edge closer to solving the Alzheimer’s mystery.

About the Study

The medical imaging study is open to individuals 50 years and older who are in hospice care or nearing the end of life.

For more information about the study, please contact:

• Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, (602) 239-6909

• Sun Health Research Institute, (623) 875-6500