Active Studies
Browse a listing of research studies currently underway and led by Mesulam Center investigators.
Answer some questions to see if our research may be a good fit for you.

Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 3
The overall goal of Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 3 (ADNI3) is to determine the relationships among the clinical, cognitive, imaging, genetic and biochemical biomarker characteristics of the entire spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as the pathology evolves from normal aging through very mild symptoms, to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), to dementia.
Alzheimer's Disease Core Center
The purpose of the Northwestern Alzheimer’s Disease Center (NADC) research registry is to 1) provide state-of-the-art care to patients with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, and to 2) support clinical and basic research on memory and aging collecting, storing, and disseminating clinical data, brain imaging, and biological samples from research participants to collaborators.
ALLFTD Study
The overall goal of ALLFTD is to prepare a cohort of individuals with most varieties of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) for future studies including clinical trials. FTLD is a neurological disease that causes Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) syndromes including Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) and Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD), among others.
Communication Bridge
The Communication Bridge study is an internet-based, speech therapy intervention for individuals with Primary Progressive Aphasia and their Communication Partner. The goal of the study is to help us better understand the effects of speech language therapy on communication abilities in individuals with PPA. All study visits take place over the Internet in the comfort of your home, on a computer we provide for the length of the study.
Language in Primary Progressive Aphasia
The Language in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) aims to better understand progression in PPA and its link to brain changes, increase awareness of PPA, and identify biomarkers leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment. Participants are asked to undergo tests of language and thinking abilities and have brain scans every two years.
Longitudinal Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease Study (LEADS)
The Longitudinal Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease Study (LEADS) is a non-randomized, natural history, non-treatment study designed to look at disease progression in individuals with early onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD). Clinical/cognitive, imaging, biomarker, and genetic characteristics will be assessed across two cohorts: (1) individuals with EOAD and (2) cognitively normal (CN) control participants.
Alzheimer's Prevention Study (TRC-PAD)
This is an observational study that advances Alzheimer’s research by matching healthy people with clinical trials to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Participants who meet certain criteria and are identified as being at potential increased risk for future memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease are eligible. The purpose of this study is to create a trial-ready cohort (TRC) to further dementia research.
Super Aging Study: Correlates of Active Engagement in Life in the Elderly
The purpose of this study is to identify factors that contribute to the maintenance of functioning in old age (age 80 and above). We will be looking at a variety of factors including cognition, personality traits, psychosocial factors, genetic factors, and brain structure. The second purpose of this study is to look at how performance on these variables changes over time.
Progranulin Gene Mutation Study
The purpose of this study is to determine if the investigational drug AL001 is effective and safe in treating individuals who have a progranulin gene mutation that causes frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Currently there is no treatment for FTD.