Blood Biomarkers for Alzheimer Disease and Neuro-injury to Estimate the Association With Cognitive/Functional Decline and Mortality in a Real-world Population of GERiatric Hospitalized Patients (BAD-GER) (BAD-GER)

February 24, 2026 updated by: Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura per Anziani

Blood Biomarkers for Alzheimer Disease and Neuro-injury to Estimate the Association With Cognitive/Functional Decline and Mortality in a Real-world Population of GERiatric Hospitalized Patients (BAD-GER): a Multicenter, Observational, 3-arms, Prospective Study

The BAD-GER study is a multicenter, prospective, three-arm observational study serving to validate a prognostic biomarker algorithm for mortality and hospital readmission; this algorithm will be developed through the retrospective analysis of Alzheimer's Disease and neurodegeneration biomarkers in an already available discovery cohort of 700 previously hospitalized geriatric patients.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Blood levels of amyloid ß-42 (Aß42), total and phosphorylated tau protein (t- and p-tau) associated with other biomarkers of neuro-injury, i.e. neurofilament light (NfL) chain and with biomarkers of neuroinflammation, such as CXCL8, CXCL12 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and metabolites analyzable with metabolomic approach, can provide information not only on neuro-injury, but also on risk of re-hospitalization and mortality. The investigators called these biomarkers BAD-GER biomarkers. The BAD-GER study is a multicenter, prospective, three-arm observational study designed to validate a prognostic biomarker algorithm for mortality and hospital readmission. This algorithm will be derived from a retrospective analysis of Alzheimer's Disease and neurodegeneration biomarkers within an existing discovery cohort of 700 geriatric patients. By integrating clinical data, routine laboratory parameters, immunophenotypes, and specific BAD-GER biomarkers into a minimal dataset, the study will assess associations with functional/cognitive status, as well as short-term and one-year mortality and rehospitalization rates.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
400

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Italy
      • Ancona, Italy
        • Recruiting
        • IRCCS INRCA Hospital
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Antonio Cherubini, MD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Riccardo Sarzani, MD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Leonardo Biscetti, MD
      • Fermo, Italy
        • Recruiting
        • IRCCS INRCA Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Cinzia Giuli, PhD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Roberto Brunelli, MD
      • Messina, Italy
        • Recruiting
        • Policlinico Universitario
        • Contact:
          • Paolino La Spina, MD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Paolino La Spina, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Older inpatients.

Description

GROUP 1: Patients hospitalized for acute neurological disorders

Inclusion criteria:

  • Inpatients with one of the following diagnoses: ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, delirium, status epilepticus, encephalitis/meningitis

Exclusion criteria:

  • no informed consent

GROUP 2: Patients hospitalized for non-neurological diseases with dementia

Inclusion criteria:

  • inpatients with diagnosis of major neurocognitive disorder according to DSM-5 criteria (2013)

Exclusion criteria:

  • Inpatients with one of the following diagnoses: ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, delirium, status epilepticus, encephalitis/meningitis
  • no informed consent

GROUP 3: Patients hospitalized for non-neurological diseases without dementia

Inclusion criteria:

  • inpatients with non-neurological diseases

Exclusion criteria:

  • inpatients with one of the following diagnoses: ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, delirium, status epilepticus, encephalitis/meningitis
  • diagnosis of dementia
  • no informed consent

Study Plan

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

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Patients hospitalized for acute neurological disorders
Inpatients with one of the following diagnosis: ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, delirium, status epilepticus, encephalitis/meningitis
Other: collection of blood samples
Serum and EDTA-plasma samples will be collected at baseline
Patients hospitalized for non-neurological diseases with dementia
Inpatients with diagnosis of major neurocognitive disorder according to DSM-5 criteria (2013)
Other: collection of blood samples
Serum and EDTA-plasma samples will be collected at baseline
Patients hospitalized for non-neurological diseases without dementia
Inpatients with non-neurological diseases without dementia
Other: collection of blood samples
Serum and EDTA-plasma samples will be collected at baseline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
All-cause Mortality
Time Frame: 12 months from enrollment
To validate the prognostic value of a biomarker algorithm derived from a retrospective analysis of Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration biomarkers within an existing discovery cohort of 700 geriatric inpatients.
12 months from enrollment
Number of hospital readmission
Time Frame: 12 months from enrollment
To validate the prognostic value of a biomarker algorithm derived from a retrospective analysis of Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration biomarkers within an existing discovery cohort of 700 geriatric inpatients.
12 months from enrollment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Comprehensive geriatric assessment by INTERRAI-MDS-AC/VAOR-AC instrument
Time Frame: At baseline
Identification information, personal data at admission, assessment date, cognitive function, communication and vision, mood and behaviour, physical function, incontinence, diagnosis of the disease, health conditions, oral and nutrition status, skin conditions, medications, treatment and procedures, advanced directives, discharge potential, discharge, assessment information, anamnestic-clinical data, standardised clinical assessment, physical performance tests
At baseline
Levels of amyloid ß-42
Time Frame: At baseline
The levels of plasma amyloid ß-42 (Aß42) are assessed.
At baseline
Assessment of cognitive function
Time Frame: At baseline
Cognitive function will be assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Score ranges 0-30, with higher score indicating better cognitive function.
At baseline
Assessment of cognition
Time Frame: At baseline
Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) is a cognitive test that is used to assess the severity of dementia. It evaluates six cognitive and functional domains, where the scores are summed to provide a total score from 0 (no cognitive impairment) to 30 (severe impairment).
At baseline
Assessment of frailty
Time Frame: At baseline
It will be assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). This descriptive scale divides the older participants into 9 classes based on the information provided by them and their relatives: between 1 and 3 the patient is non-frail, pre-frail if 4, he is frail from 5 to 9.
At baseline
Levels of tau proteins
Time Frame: At baseline
Plasma levels of total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) will be quantified.
At baseline
Marker of neuro-injury
Time Frame: At baseline
Neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels will be assessed in plasma
At baseline
Neuroinflammation
Time Frame: At baseline
The plasma pro-inflammatory chemokine CXCL8 (Interleukin-8) and the homeostatic chemokine CXCL12 (SDF-1) will be measured
At baseline
Marker of astrocyte activation
Time Frame: At baseline
Plasma concentrations of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) will be quantified
At baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura per Anziani

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Ministry of Health, Italy
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico "G. Martino"
IRCCS Multimedica
University of Salento

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: Fabiola Olivieri, Professor, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 9, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 24, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • INRCA_001_2026

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Alzheimer Disease

Clinical Trials on collection of blood samples

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings