Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07798700

Biofluid Research on Age-Related or Inherited Neurodegeneration

The aim of this study is to contribute to and continue to sustain a repository of blood samples, nucleic acid (DNA and/or RNA) samples, family history information, and other demographic information from individuals with age-related neurodegenerative conditions, or their family members who may or may not be at risk for similar conditions. This study will continue to further expand research into the molecular and genetic basis of these diseases and their risk factors.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Alzheimer Disease Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Aphasia Aphasia, Primary Progressive Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Communication Disorders Cortical Basal Syndrome (CBS) Cranial Nerve Diseases Dementia Dementia With Lewy Bodies (DLB) Eye Diseases Familial Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (fFTLD) Fronto-temporal Lobar Dementia Language Disorders Lewy Body Disease Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE) Mental Disorders Metabolic Diseases Motor Neuron Disease Movement Disorders Nerve Degeneration Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurocognitive Disorders Neurodegenerative Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Ocular Motility Disorders Ophthalmoplegia Paralysis Parkinson Disease Parkinson's Disease (PD) Parkinson's Disease Dementia (PDD) Parkinsonian Disorders Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) Primary Muscular Atrophy (PMA) Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) Progressive Supranuclear Palsy(PSP) Proteostasis Deficiencies Signs and Symptoms Speech Disorders Spinal Cord Diseases Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive Synucleinopathies TDP-43 Proteinopathies Tauopathies limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Cara Joyce, MPH

CONTACT

[email protected]

267-271-0740

Corey McMillan, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Emily Xie

CONTACT

[email protected]

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • People with a clinical diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease including, but not limited to Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), primary muscular atrophy (PMA), or individuals with a suspected neurodegenerative dementia and/or movement disorder of unknown etiology will be considered for enrollment
  • Family Members of individuals who meet the criteria of group 1, who are people who may or may not be at risk for a similar neurodegenerative disease, who may or may not be symptomatic, and who may or may not have known or unknown genetic risk.
  • People with no known neurological disease who will provide control data.

Exclusion criteria

  • Anyone who is under the age of 18.
  • Anyone with a condition or in a situation which, in the investigator's opinion, could confound the study findings or may interfere significantly with a person's participation, including but not limited to neurological, psychological, and other medical conditions (such as cardiac, neurosurgical, infectious conditions).

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. To contribute to and continue to sustain a repository biological samples and data from individuals with age-related neurodegenerative conditions.

    Time frame: This is a natural history study-participants are followed from date of enrollment until death, withdraw, or funding is no longer available, or until 600 months have passed.

    To contribute to and continue to sustain a repository of blood samples, nucleic acid (DNA and/or RNA) samples, family history information, and other demographic information from individuals with age-related neurodegenerative conditions.

Secondary outcomes

  1. To collect and bank data and biospecimen samples

    Time frame: This is a natural history study-participants are followed from date of enrollment until death, withdraw, or funding is no longer available, or until 600 months have passed.

    To collect and bank data and biospecimen samples locally and at collaborating data and biobank repositories in support of neurodegenerative disease research. Data and biospecimen samples may be collected as part of an external protocol (e.g., a different Penn IRB-approved observational protocol, clinical trial, or consortium study) in which participants may be co-enrolled

  2. To collect data and biospecimen samples from people who wish to participate in research but are unable to participate or do not meet eligibility criteria for other research protocols at our lab.

    Time frame: This is a natural history study-participants are followed from date of enrollment until death, withdraw, or funding is no longer available, or until 600 months have passed.

    To collect data and biospecimen samples from people who wish to participate in research but are unable to participate or do not meet eligibility criteria for other research protocols at our lab, e.g., a carrier of a rare genetic variant associated with a neurodegenerative disease.

  3. To extend analysis, maintenance, and sharing of existing data.

    Time frame: This is a natural history study-participants are followed from date of enrollment until death, withdraw, or funding is no longer available, or until 600 months have passed.

    To extend analysis, maintenance, and sharing of existing data, imaging, and biospecimen samples collected by our lab under previous research protocols

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Cara Joyce, MPH

CONTACT

[email protected]

267-271-0740

Emily Xie

CONTACT

[email protected]

16109553114

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
  • National Institute on Aging (NIA)
  • University of Pennsylvania Institute on Aging

Registry information

Official study title

Biofluid Research on Age-Related or Inherited Neurodegeneration (BRAIN)

Acronym: BRAIN

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2070
Study completion
2070
First posted
Sep 1, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.