Exploratory Evaluation of [11C]MPC6827

Neurodegenerative diseases are conditions where the brain cells break down, causing mental and/or physical impairment. Alzheimer's Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals and causes irreversible memory loss and cognitive impairment. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is also and incurable disorder that causes patients irreversible paralysis, which results in death due to inability to breath and suffocation. These disease have been shown to be associated with abnormalities in an important scaffolding called microtubules, a cellular structure that help support the shape of the cells. This study will explore an experimental imaging test to see if it can be used to help doctors identify early microtubule changes. The test involves the injection of a radioactive compound that has been shown to go to cells and bind to microtubules. Special cameras called Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/CT cameras will be used to allow doctors to view where the radioactive compound goes in the body, as this is the first time this radiolabeled agent is being used in humans. In this study, doctors will give the new compound to up to five healthy volunteers to see where it goes in the body of people who presumable have normal microtubule function. Then doctors will give [11C]MPC6827 to up to 30 additional subjects (healthy controls and patients with Alzheimers Disease or ALS) to focus on imaging the brain for extended times. The research-imaging drug in this study is [11C]MPC6827. The radioactive drug in this study is experimental, meaning it is not approved by the FDA and can only be used in research studies.

Inclusion criteria

(Healthy Volunteers)

• All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, able to read, understand and voluntarily sign and informed consent document.
• Volunteers must have no current medical history of brain disease
• Negative pregnancy test if female of childbearing potential.
• Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry for the duration of study participation.

Inclusion criteria

(Alzheimer's Disease or ALS)

• All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, able to read, understand and voluntarily sign and informed consent document.
• Subjects must have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease or ALS for which they are under a physician's care.
• Subjects must have a negative pregnancy test if female of childbearing potential
• Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry for the duration of the study participation.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants with evidence of brain disease other than ALS or Alzheimer's Disease at the time of enrolment up to agent administration are to be excluded from the study.
• Concomitant medication use that, in the judgement of the investigator, would make the participant inappropriate for enrolment.
• Severe concurrent disease, infection, or medical co-morbidity that, in the judgement of the investigator, would make the participant inappropriate for enrolment.
• Participants who are receiving other investigational radiation drugs.
• Women who are pregnant or breast feeding.
• Subjects who are unable to tolerate PET/CT imaging