21 Oct Brain scans begin for nationwide Alzheimer’s disease study

UW School of Medicine and Public Health

One of the first to participate in the study, called Clarity in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research Through Imaging, or CLARiTI, is Barbara Smith Ballen of Dane County. The 70-year-old mother of five began volunteering for research studies at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in 2018 and enrolled in CLARiTI in 2024. Smith Ballen’s father was diagnosed with dementia in the years leading up to this death, which motivated her to become a research participant.

“I am committed to doing whatever I can to help end this devastating disease and hopefully others will follow my lead,” she said. “I truly believe that this research team has what it takes to make a breakthrough; they just need to stay persistent.” Read more…