Join a Study

The Mayo Clinic ADRC is one of over 30 research centers across the country that seek to better understand Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Our mission is to advance knowledge about how and why these conditions develop, improve diagnosis and care, and discover new ways to treat and prevent them. We partner with local communities to raise awareness, share resources, and provide opportunities for community members to participate in studies that will ensure that important discoveries benefit everyone.

• Observational Study
• Age 18+
• Those with no memory concerns, and those who have mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), or an AD-related dementia.

ALLFTD is a national collaboration of medical centers working together to better understand frontotemporal dementia and related conditions. Its mission is to follow people over time to learn how these diseases progress, improve early diagnosis, and identify markers that can guide future treatments. By uniting researchers, patients, and families, the program aims to speed the discovery of effective therapies and improve care for those affected.

Chronic stress can harm memory and thinking, and it may help explain why Latino communities face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This study will explore how long-term stress affects memory in older Hispanic/Latino adults by looking at stress markers in hair, cognitive testing, and cultural factors. The goal is to understand how stress and culture shape brain health and to find ways to slow or prevent memory decline in this community.

• Observational Study
• Age 18+
• Those with no memory concerns, and those who have mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), or an AD-related dementia.

Rapidly Progressive Dementia (RPD) is a rare condition where memory and thinking decline much faster than in typical dementia, sometimes within weeks or months instead of years. It can be caused by infections, autoimmune problems, or other brain disorders, and in some cases is linked to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). This study will measure several biological indicators of disease (biomarkers) to uncover what causes RPD in people with ADRD, identify who is most at risk, and find better ways to diagnose, treat, or slow the disease.

• Observational Study
• Age 18+
• Those with no memory concerns, and those who have mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), or an AD-related dementia.

The CLEAR-AD initiative is working to advance personalized medicine for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Researchers collect, measure, and study information obtained from brain scans and blood tests (biomarkers) to see how proteins, genes, and other factors interact over time and affect disease onset, progression, and treatment response. Led by Mayo Clinic Florida and Indiana University with national and international partners, CLEAR-AD aims to develop more accurate, personalized ways to diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease.

• Observational Study
• Age 18+
• For those currently enrolled in the Mayo Clinic ADRC.

The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) is a major study of families with a gene mutation that causes Alzheimer’s disease at a much younger age, sometimes as young as in their 30s or 40s. By tracking brain changes before symptoms appear and comparing people with and without the mutation, researchers hope to uncover the earliest signs of the disease. These insights could lead to better ways to prevent, delay, or treat Alzheimer’s for everyone.

• Observational Study
• Age 18+
• Those who have a family history of Alzheimer's disease.

LEADS explores Alzheimer’s disease that begins at a younger age, usually before 65. Early-onset Alzheimer’s often looks different from the more common form in older adults and can progress more quickly. By tracking brain changes, memory, thinking, and genetics over several years, researchers aim to uncover early signs of the disease and improve diagnosis, treatment, and care for people with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

• Observational Study
• Between the ages of 40-64
• Those with no memory concerns or with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's Disease.

Mayo Clinic has been named a Research Center of Excellence by the Lewy Body Dementia Association. This honor recognizes centers that provide expert care, support, and outreach for people with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). At Mayo, researchers are studying brain scans, genetics, and other markers to better understand DLB and develop more effective treatments, ultimately aiming to improve quality of life for those affected.

• Observational Study
• Age 18+
• People with Dementia with Lewy Bodies or mild cognitive impairment due to Lewy Body disease (MCI-LB).

The Mayo Advancing Research Engagement in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Study (MAREAS) is a research project focused on making sure people from diverse backgrounds are included in studies about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Researchers gather comprehensive health data, genetic information, lifestyle habits, and social determinants to better understand the factors influencing ADRD in diverse populations. The goal of the study is to find new insights that can lead to more effective and personalized treatments for people with ADRD.

• Observational Study
• Age 18+
• Those with no memory concerns, and those who have mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), or an AD-related dementia.

Our speech can reflect the health of our brain. Conditions like Alzheimer's and related disorders can change the way we speak, so monitoring speech can help doctors spot early warning signs. The MST is a simple test that tracks these changes. During the test, people say specific words or sentences while researchers pay attention to how clearly and quickly, they speak and how their voice sounds. By following these speech patterns over time, doctors can detect changes that may signal problems with brain function, supporting earlier diagnosis and better care.

• Observational Study
• Age 18+
• Those with no memory concerns, and those who have mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), or an AD-related dementia.

Mayo Clinic researchers are creating a simple, web-based tool to check memory and thinking skills. The goal is to make cognitive testing easier and more accessible, allowing people to assess their memory on smartphones, tablets, or computers without visiting a doctor’s office. Study participants will help test whether using this tool regularly can detect early signs of memory problems, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment for conditions like memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and related dementias.

• Observational Study
• Age 18+
• For those currently enrolled in the Mayo Clinic ADRC.

Women who have had both ovaries removed before menopause may be at elevated risk of cognitive decline, mild memory issues, and changes associated with Alzheimer's disease later in life. This study seeks to understand these risks by studying women who have (and have not had) premenopausal removal of both ovaries.

• Observational Study
• Age 60+
• Women with no memory concerns, and women who have mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), or an AD-related dementia.