The demenTia Research And Care Clinic (TRACC)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The demenTia Research And Care Clinic (TRACC)
IRAS ID
205788
Contact name
Michael Hornberger
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
The proposed demenTia Research And Care Clinic (TRACC) aims to become a centre of excellence in the field of dementia research. An expert multidisciplinary team, working in close contact with local NHS staff involved in dementia care, will follow participants longitudinally throughout the disease from diagnosis (or even pre-diagnosis) to the end stages of dementia. The current transdiagnostic study will involve neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), its precursor state of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Motor Neuron Disease (MND), and the Pick’s disease complex (frontotemporal dementias (FTD), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)), who have varying structural changes in the brain but overlapping thinking (cognitive) and behavioural changes. A comprehensive assessment package, including neuropsychological measures, collection of blood, urine and stool samples, as well as brain imaging, will generate data needed to inform key research questions, while providing research participants (and their health and social care professionals) with clinical feedback that can have a direct impact in their lives. The newly gained knowledge from this study will lead to improved diagnostic accuracy and management of these diseases, even in the early disease stages, which will increase the efficacy of new upcoming disease modifying therapies. With 3,885 new dementia cases diagnosed in Norfolk each year and no similar research clinics currently running in the local area, the creation of such a facility is timely and welcome.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1366
Date of REC Opinion
5 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion