The Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (CART), under the direction of Dr. Reisa Sperling, is a multidisciplinary clinical research team dedicated to the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapeutics through innovative research. Our mission is twofold: to improve the early diagnosis of AD by employing more sensitive clinical evaluations, biological markers, and neuroimaging; and to assess promising new treatments for AD.
AD is the most common cause of dementia. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that results in decline in cognitive function, and inability to carry out activities of daily living. Typically, AD begins with impairment in short term memory, and progresses to involve attention and organizational abilities, language, and visual perception. Changes in behavior, including loss of motivation, depression, irritability, and agitation are also common early on in AD.
As the population ages, AD is nearing epidemic numbers. One out of every ten individuals over the age of 65 has AD. Early diagnosis and treatment when symptoms are very mild provides the best opportunity to improve and maintain the quality of life of older adults, as well as relieve the tremendous economic burden associated with this condition. In the future, we hope to develop improved diagnostic tests, which will allow us to begin treatment even prior to the occurrence of symptoms.
Our multidisciplinary team at CART is engaged in clinical research. Clinical research is the study of health and illness in people. It is how we learn to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. In a clinical research study, participants undergo clinical evaluations, such as testing of cognitive function, behavior, and daily functioning, physical exams, blood tests, and brain scans.
Throughout our work, the staff of CART are fully committed to racial and social justice. We value ALL people and strive every day to help bridge the gap of inequity in healthcare and research.
At CART we conduct two major types of clinical research studies: observational studies, in which participants undergo cognitive and brain imaging tests to better understand brain aging and improve early diagnosis of AD; and therapeutic clinical trials, in which participants receive an experimental drug or a placebo (sugar-pill or liquid without the active drug ingredients) to test new treatments for AD. It is important to note that both these types of research studies do not constitute clinical care, such as that provided by a treating clinician. However, our clinical investigators also work at and with Brigham and Women’s Center for Brain Mind Medicine and the Massachusetts General Hospital Memory Disorders Unit where patients with memory complaints and dementia are evaluated clinically.
We have studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Alzheimer’s Association, and multiple pharmaceutical companies. We are currently enrolling older individuals with normal cognition or mild memory trouble, and patients who have been diagnosed with AD, in multiple studies.
CART was founded by Drs. Reisa Sperling and Dorene Rentz almost 25 years ago when they identified a need for a designated center focused on both the advancement of AD clinical research and novel AD treatments. Upon its creation, CART was housed in the basement of the 221 Longwood building and consisted of [insert Gad’s original title] Dr. Gad Marshall and one PA acting as a research coordinator. Since then, CART has moved with the BWH neurology clinic to the new Hale Building for Transformative Medicine at 60 Fenwood Road, and our team has expanded to include research assistants, study nurses, administrative staff, multiple clinicians, and a full management team collaborating to conduct both pharmacy-sponsored and investigator-initiated research.
60 Fenwood Road
Hale Building for Transformative Medicine
Boston, MA 02115
Email: cart@mgb.org
Phone: (617) 732-8085
Fax: (617) 264-6831
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