Amylin, Amyloid-beta Peptide, and Alzheimer’s Disease Study

Amylin, Amyloid-beta Peptide, and Alzheimer’s Disease

This study aims to develop a blood test that can be used to diagnose patients with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease by repurposing Symlin® (pramlintide acetate), a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help control blood sugar in people with Type I and Type II diabetes.

You may be eligible for this study if you:

• Are 50 to 90 years old
• Are a healthy individual, or someone diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s disease
• Do not have diabetes
• Have caregiver or study partner who can accompany you for the study visit (AD diagnosed patients only)

What happens during the study?

A brief telephone screening visit will be conducted to determine if you are eligible to participate.

After fasting overnight, you will meet a member of the study team at the General Clinical Research Unit (GCRU) who will review the informed consent form with you. A nurse will then take vitals, including height, weight, and blood sugar, and will place an IV and draw a sample of blood. Shortly thereafter, you will receive one subcutaneous injection of Symlin® (pramlintide acetate) in the abdomen. Blood will be drawn from the IV at 5, 30, 60, and 180 minutes post-injection. A nurse will monitor you throughout your visit and a meal will be provided to you after the 60 min. post-injection blood draw. The visit should last 4-5 hours.

Where is this study taking place?

Boston University Medical Center

Meet the team

Wendy Qiu, MD, PhD – Principal Investigator
Joshua Gustine – Research Assistant

More information

Please call 617-414-1077 or email JoinADC@bu.edu for more information and to participate.