Recruiting

BRAINRepository of Biofluid Samples for Age-Related Neurodegenerative Conditions

Study Aim

This observational study aims to collect and maintain a repository of biological samples, including blood and nucleic acid (DNA and/or RNA), as well as family history and demographic information from individuals with age-related neurodegenerative conditions.

What is being collected

Data Collection

DNA Samples

Who is being recruted

Synucleinopathies+37

+ Aphasia

+ Basal Ganglia Diseases

Over 18 Years

+5 Eligibility Criteria

See all eligibility criteria

How is the trial designed

Cohort

Tracking disease incidence in order to identify risk factors and understand disease progression over time.

Observational

Study Start: December 2025

See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorUniversity of Pennsylvania

Study ContactCara Joyce, MPHMore contacts

Last updated: September 1, 2026

Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: December 12, 2025

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The BRAIN study focuses on age-related neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. It aims to build and maintain a collection of blood samples, DNA and RNA samples, family history, and other related information from individuals with these conditions, as well as their family members who may or may not be at risk. The study's importance lies in its potential to advance understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of these diseases, which could pave the way for improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. In this observational study, participants contribute their biological samples and personal data to the BRAIN repository. No treatments or interventions are provided. Instead, the study measures its results by collecting and analyzing the donated samples and information. The primary outcome is the establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive repository that can support ongoing research into age-related neurodegenerative conditions and their risk factors.

NCT07798700

Principal SponsorUniversity of Pennsylvania

Study ContactCara Joyce, MPHMore contacts

Last updated: September 1, 2026

Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

Design Details

1000 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Cohort

These studies follow a group of individuals with common characteristics (such as a condition or birth year) over a specific period to study health outcomes or exposures.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Conditions

Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

Over 18 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

SynucleinopathiesAphasiaBasal Ganglia DiseasesMental DisordersBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesCommunication DisordersCranial Nerve DiseasesEye DiseasesLanguage DisordersMetabolic DiseasesNervous System DiseasesNeurologic ManifestationsNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesOphthalmoplegiaParalysisPathologic ProcessesSigns and SymptomsSpeech DisordersSpinal Cord DiseasesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsOcular Motility DisordersNeurobehavioral ManifestationsNeurocognitive DisordersParkinsonian DisordersTauopathiesProteostasis DeficienciesTDP-43 ProteinopathiesAlzheimer DiseaseAmyotrophic Lateral SclerosisDementiaMovement DisordersNerve DegenerationNeuromuscular DiseasesParkinson DiseaseSupranuclear Palsy, ProgressiveMotor Neuron DiseaseAphasia, Primary ProgressiveNeurodegenerative DiseasesLewy Body Disease

Criteria

3 inclusion criteria required to participate

Family Members of individuals who meet the criteria of group 1, who are people who may or may not be at risk for a similar neurodegenerative disease, who may or may not be symptomatic, and who may or may not have known or unknown genetic risk

People with a clinical diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease including, but not limited to Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), primary muscular atrophy (PMA), or individuals with a suspected neurodegenerative dementia and/or movement disorder of unknown etiology will be considered for enrollment

People with no known neurological disease who will provide control data

2 exclusion criteria prevent from participating

Anyone who is under the age of 18

Anyone with a condition or in a situation which, in the investigator's opinion, could confound the study findings or may interfere significantly with a person's participation, including but not limited to neurological, psychological, and other medical conditions (such as cardiac, neurosurgical, infectious conditions)

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.

Treatment Groups

Study Objectives

3 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group

Treatment Groups

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Recruiting

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, United StatesOpen University of Pennsylvania in Google Maps

Recruiting

One Study Center