ADRC: Cognitive Assessment & Clinical Trials Program
Director: Steven H. Ferris, Ph.D.

The Cognitive Assessment and Clinical Trials Program focuses on understanding cognitive decline associated with aging, Alzheimer's disease and related disorders in order to develop sensitive assessment tools that provide accurate evaluations and aid in the early detection of cognitive impairment. The program also focuses on testing pharmacologic treatments that enhance cognition or slow the rate of decline in cognitive disorders.

This group, which includes Steven H. Ferris, PhD, Alan Kluger, PhD and James Golomb, MD, is in the forefront of research regarding the early identification and treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition which is often a very early stage of Alzheimer's disease. In studies to improve the sensitivity of measures to detect early cognitive symptoms of brain aging and Alzheimer's disease, the group was able to identify potential psychometric predictors of the disease that were evident when a person had mild impairment (MCI) but not dementia. Related studies by Dr. Alan Kluger and colleagues have focused on motor and psychomotor measures that appear to be related to MCI and may also be predictors of further decline to dementia. The measures developed at the Cognitive Assessment and Clinical Trials Program, are now being used to identify people with MCI who are at high risk for Alzheimer's disease for their participation in clinical trials of drug treatments that may slow the course of cognitive decline and delay the onset of clinically significant symptoms.

Dr. Ferris has also contributed to the definition and recognition of age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) as a common consequence of normal brain aging. He and his colleagues have focused on the development and evaluation of sensitive tests that detect cognitive decline due to aging. Current research is focusing on the psychometric identification of individuals who are at risk for future, more serious decline. These tests will be useful for selecting subjects for clinical trials of treatments that may slow cognitive decline and possibly prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Another important activity of this program is participation in clinical trials for new and experimental treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive impairments. The studies, sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and run in many centers simultaneously, determine whether treatments improve cognition or slow the progression of decline in people with a cognitive disorder. The Cognitive Assessment and Clinical Trials Program is a major participant in the National Institute for Aging Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), a national clinical trials consortium. As part of the consortium, the NYU Program has taken part in many trials, including a landmark attempt to slow the clinical progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Two current trials developed by the consortium include a trial to delay conversion from MCI to Alzheimer’s disease, and a multicenter trial, headed by Dr. Ferris, which is developing and validating improved clinical outcome measures for AD and MCI clinical trials. A current major project focuses on developing more efficient outcome measures for primary prevention trials for Alzheimer's disease, including measures designed to detect the earliest cognitive and functional changes in previously normal eldery individuals. Other current trials are testing treatments that may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

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