Cardiac Amyloid Deposits and Heart Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease

This study seeks to explore the possible common pathogenesis of both cardiac amyloidosis and Alzheimer's disease, which can both be associated with amyloid deposits. Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans with amyloid tracers - a conventional tool for non-invasively imaging amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease - the research will extend this imaging methodology to the heart.

The study will conduct additional PET/MRI scans of the heart in patients undergoing amyloid tracer PET scans for Alzheimer's evaluations. Each participant will also undergo an echocardiogram and a clinical examination of dementia.

This could potentially enhance diagnostic practices in both cardiac amyloidosis and Alzheimer's disease.

Recruiting

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Key information

Conditions

Dementia, Alzheimer Type Alzheimer Disease Amyloid Neuropathies Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial Amyloidosis Amyloidosis, Familial Brain Diseases Cardiac Amyloidosis Central Nervous System Diseases Cognition Disorders Cognitive Dysfunction Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Dementia Genetic Diseases, Inborn Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System Mental Disorders Metabolic Diseases Metabolism, Inborn Errors Mild Cognitive Impairment Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Neurodegenerative Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Proteostasis Deficiencies Tauopathies

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University Hospital Essen

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, 45147, Germany

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

David Kersting, MD PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+49-201-723-2073

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Patients undergoing cerebral amyloid PET examination for clinical indication to clarify Alzheimer's disease
No contraindications to undergo an MRI examination
No contraindications to undergo an Amyloid PET scan

Exclusion criteria

Patients with vascular dementia and confirmed other causes of dementia (e.g. stroke, vitamin deficiency, thyroid insufficiency, toxic causes such as alcohol)
Patients with pronounced cardiac preconditions
Pregnant and breastfeeding women

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Frequency of occurrence of cardiac amyloid deposits in patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (overall)

Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Frequency of occurrence of cardiac amyloid deposits in relation to different disease manifestations (subdivided, for example, by clinical assessment of disease stage)

Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year

Study contacts

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

David Kersting, MD PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+49-201-723-2073

Stephan Settelmeier, MD

CONTACT

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Essen

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigation of Cardiac Amyloid Deposits as a Cause of Cardiac Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease (Untersuchung Von Kardialen Amyloidablagerungen Als Ursache Einer Funktionseinschränkung Des Herzens Bei Alzheimer Demenz)

Important dates

Study start: 2022
Primary completion: 2023
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Sep 4, 2025
Registry last updated: Sep 4, 2025

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.

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

Completed