United States, France, Ireland550 participantsStarted 2021-06-07
Plain-language summary
The purpose of the Trial-Ready Cohort - Down Syndrome (TRC-DS) is to enroll 120 healthy adults with Down syndrome (DS), between the ages of 25-55, into a trial ready cohort (TRC), and up to 550 participants in total including co-enrolled in the Alzheimer Biomarkers Consortium - Down Syndrome (ABC-DS) study. Participants enrolled in the TRC-DS will undergo longitudinal cognitive and clinical assessment, genetic and biomarker testing, as well as imaging and biospecimen collection. Using these outcome measures, researchers will analyze the relationships between cognitive measures and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) to identify endpoints for AD clinical trials in DS that best reflect disease progression.
To learn more about the study and participating sites, visit our study website at: https://www.trcds.org/.
TRC-DS is collaborating with the Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker Consortium-Down Syndrome (ABC-DS) to allow study participants to be concurrently enrolled in both ABC-DS and TRC-DS, referred to as "co-enrollment". ABC-DS is a longitudinal, observational research study that is overseen at University of Pittsburgh Coordinating Center. ABC-DS participants who express interest in potentially joining a clinical trial in the future and who meet TRC-DS eligibility criteria, may choose to co-enroll in TRC-DS at an ABC-DS Site. Co-enrolled participants will adhere to the ABC-DS protocol and schedule of activities, but agree to share their data with the TRC-DS team and to receive invitations for future participation in clinical trials. Fore more information on ABC-DS please visit https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/abc-ds or http://abcds.pitt.edu/.
Who can participate
Age range
25 Years – 55 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Diagnosis of DS (including trisomy 21, mosaic trisomy 21, Robertsonian translocation trisomy 21 or partial trisomy 21) (as confirmed by genetic testing or medical record review)
. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form; this includes adults with DS who can provide consent, or for whom an LAR provides consent on behalf of the individual to participate. Adults with DS who cannot consent must sign and date an assent accompanied with a signed and dated consent by legally authorized representative (LAR).
. Stated availability and willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study or until referred to a clinical trial
. Male or female, aged 25-55 inclusive
. In good general health as evidenced by medical history with no diagnosis of dementia
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Enrollment of participants into the Trial-Ready Cohort in DS (TRC-DS).
. Permitted CNS-active medications, stable in dose for at least 4 weeks or longer. If new medications have been started, medical monitoring team will review on case by case basis to recommend timing of baseline cognitive testing
. Adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing
. Mental Age of 4 years or greater (based upon the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition, KBIT-2, verbal age equivalent, or based upon medical records)
Exclusion criteria
. Any significant disease or unstable medical condition that could affect participation (i.e., unstable psychiatric disease, unstable cardiac problems, chronic renal failure, chronic hepatic disease, severe pulmonary disease)
. Participants in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is contraindicated including, but not limited to, those with a non-compatible pacemaker, presence of MRI-incompatible metallic fragments near the eyes or spinal cord, or cochlear implant (Dental fillings do not present a risk for MRI)
. Participants unable to complete MRI procedure
. History, within the last 5 years of a primary or recurrent malignant disease with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancers, resected cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in situ, basal cell carcinoma, cervical carcinoma in situ, or in situ prostate cancer with normal prostate-specific antigen post-treatment
. Clinically significant abnormalities in B12 or TFTs that might interfere with the study. A low B12 is exclusionary, unless follow-up labs (homocysteine (HC) and methylmalonic acid (MMA)) indicate that it is not physiologically significant. A high TSH is exclusionary unless follow up T3/T4 levels indicate that it is not physiologically significant.
. Clinically significant abnormalities in screening laboratories
. For participants undergoing CSF collection: a current blood clotting or bleeding disorder, or significantly abnormal PT or PTT at screening or if on anti-coagulation therapy (e.g. warfarin)
. Concurrent participation in a clinical trial for an investigational product or concurrent participation in longitudinal study with overlapping outcome measures/procedures is prohibited with the exception of ABC-DS co-enrollment or as approved by project director