community sample

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants will be classified as either MCI patients, AD patients, or normal controls. General Inclusion Criteria will apply to all groups, with specific criteria for each group as described below:

General (applies to each category):

• Between 55 and 90 years of age (Currently, ADNI sites are only recruiting volunteers age 70-90 among people with no memory problems)
• Study partner or caregiver to accompany patient to all scheduled visits
• Fluent in English or Spanish
• Permitted medications stable for at least 4 weeks prior to screening
• Adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing
• Good general health with no additional diseases expected to interfere with the study
• Women must be two years post-menopausal or surgically sterile
• Willing and able to complete all baseline assessments, and to participate in the 2-3 year protocol
• Willing to undergo neuroimaging and provide DNA and plasma samples as specified
• Completed 6 grades of education or sufficient work history to exclude mental retardation
• Modified Hachinski score <=4
• Geriatric Depression Scale <6

Specific Criteria for MCI and AD patients:

• Memory complaint by patient or study partner
• Abnormal memory function score on Wechsler Memory Scale (adjusted for education)
• Mini-Mental State Exam score between 24 and 30 (MCI) or 20 and 26 (AD)
• Clinical Dementia Rating = 0.5; Memory Box score at least 0.5 (MCI) or 1.0 (AD)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any significant neurologic disease other than Alzheimer's disease
• Abnormal baseline MRI
• Presence of pacemakers, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, ear implants, metal fragments or foreign objects in the eyes, skin, or body
• Major depression, bipolar disorder, history of schizophrenia
• History of alcohol or substance abuse or dependency within the past 2 years
• Any significant systemic illness or unstable medical condition which could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol
• Clinically significant laboratory abnormalities
• Residence in skilled nursing facility
• Participation in clinical studies involving neuropsychological measures being collected more than one time per year

Specific Exclusion Criteria for MCI and AD:

• Psychotic features, agitation or behavioral problems within the last 3 months which could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol.

Prohibited medications:

• Specific psychoactive medications (for example, certain antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills, etc.)
• Warfarin (Coumadin)
• Investigational agents