Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is required to effectively stave off functional and cognitive decline using currently available treatments. Disturbances in circadian rhythms have been found to be one of the earliest complaints from individuals who develop AD and these disturbances progress throughout the disease. The proposed study will investigate the use of circadian rhythm disturbances as an indicator of preclinical AD by investigating and comparing circadian rhythm's of individuals who are: 1) at high risk for AD and are not currently symptomatic, 2) AD patients in all three stages of AD, and 3) controls. Circadian rhythm patterns will be investigated by assessing thedim light melatonin onset, core body temperature, and the Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire of participants over the course of one month. It is predicted that CRDs are associated with preclinical AD and thus they could be used as an indicator to physicians to investigate AD biomarkers associated with preclinical AD.This research will have important implications for early detection of AD, which would allow individuals to seek earlier treatment and stave of the cognitive and functional decline that accompanies AD.