Is alcohol dependence associated with increased 18F Amyvid binding?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Quantification and localisation of beta-amyloid plaques in a population of alcohol dependent patients and healthy volunteers using (18F) Florbetapir (Amyvid) binding: a pilot positron emission tomography study.
IRAS ID
185730
Contact name
Anne Lingford-Hughes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College Research Governence Manager
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The main purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is an increased amount of a protein called beta-amyloid (associated with Alzheimer’s disease) in alcohol dependent people compared to healthy volunteers. Both groups will undergo the same investigations.
We suspect that alcohol may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. We believe that understanding more about this will help us understand how alcohol affects the brain and also how it could contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. We will compare beta-amyloid in alcohol dependent patients with healthy individuals using two different types of brain imaging.
It is possible to measure beta-amyloid in the brain with a type of brain scan called Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET scans work by using a special chemical that has been labelled with a tiny dose of radioactivity. When injected into a person’s vein in their arm this radioactive chemical or imaging agent gives off a signal in the brain which is detected by the PET camera. The radioactive agent we want to use to image the levels of beta-amyloid is called (18F) Florbetapir (Amyvid).
Although a PET scan can tell us about beta-amyloid levels in the brain, it does not give very detailed information about where in the brain they are. Therefore, we will also perform a magnetic resonance (MRI) scan. MRI uses a large magnet to take pictures.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1781
Date of REC Opinion
13 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion