In this conversation, we speak with Dr. Randall Bateman about the basics of Alzheimer's disease research, inherited Alzheimer's disease, where the field currently is, and where it's going.
Dr. Bateman is a neurologist and Alzheimer’s researcher at Washington University in St. Louis and Director of DIAN and DIAN-TU. This interview is the first of a 2-part series about Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials participation.
In this interview, Dr. Bateman addresses questions about familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and the critical role this community has played in our understanding of Alzheimer's disease. These questions include:
What is Alzheimer's disease?
What is the difference between the more common (or late onset sporadic) form of Alzheimer's disease and rare genetic form of Alzheimer's disease?
Why studying the rare genetic form of Alzheimer's disease is important?
What are biomarkers and how are they important for studying of Alzheimer's disease?
If you like this video, continue to Part 2, where we go deeper into Alzheimer’s research participation.
And don’t forget about our Guide to Participating in User Research.
About Dr. Randall Bateman
Dr. Randall Bateman is a neurologist and Alzheimer’s researcher at Washington University in St. Louis. His lab (Bateman Lab) developed key tools that allow researchers to detect Alzheimer’s pathology—like amyloid plaques and tau tangles—in people who are still cognitively normal.
He also leads the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network (DIAN) and the DIAN-TU trials (Therapeutic Unit), a groundbreaking set of studies specifically focused on FAD. These research efforts include:
Global observational studies that monitor FAD families over time
Clinical trials testing treatments that aim to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s in people who carry a FAD mutation
Dr. Bateman works closely with families to make sure their participation is meaningful, respectful, and scientifically vital.