Free Online Study Helps Rhode Islanders Track Memory and Fight Alzheimer's

​June is Alzheimer's and Brain Health Awareness Month, and Butler Hospital's Memory and Aging Program is encouraging Rhode Islanders to take action—from the comfort of their own home.
Dr. Meghan Riddle, Associate Director of the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital, is raising awareness about a free online study that allows individuals over 50 to monitor their memory and thinking over time. The study, called the Alzheimer's Prevention Trials Web Study—or APT Web Study—is a no-cost, entirely online program that connects participants with legitimate clinical research.
"Roughly 7.2 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's disease, and it's expected that by 2050 that will nearly double," said Dr. Riddle. "Continued medical research is vital."
What is the APT Web Study?
The APT Web Study is a free online program that allows participants to take a series of memory and thinking tests every few months, accessible via computer, phone, or tablet. After completing each assessment, participants receive a personalized report on how their memory and thinking are performing.
Signing up is straightforward. Participants simply visit www.aptwebstudy.org, input their information, and begin taking the free online assessments. The only requirements are that participants be over the age of 50 and have access to the internet.
"It's conducted entirely online, so you can access these free memory and thinking tests periodically over time," Dr. Riddle explained. "It allows you to track your own memory and thinking over the course of these periodic online assessments."
Why Early Detection Matters
Dr. Riddle emphasizes that early detection is one of the most important factors in addressing cognitive decline. Identifying changes early—before they become significant—gives individuals more options for care and treatment.
"We want to catch people even in this prodromal phase—maybe we know they're at risk of developing cognitive impairment, but haven't developed it yet," she said. "We want to unlock the door to access and opportunities as early as possible."
Importantly, Dr. Riddle notes that not all cognitive changes are cause for alarm. "We can all have some mild cognitive change that doesn't necessarily mean that it is something that's progressive," she said. "Being able to identify that earlier helps us determine when to pay closer attention and when it is just a normal, age-expected change."
What Happens After You Sign Up?
Based on their assessment results, some participants may be invited to take additional steps. This could include having blood drawn at a local lab to screen for biomarkers associated with an increased risk of cognitive change. Others may be invited to participate in additional clinical research trials at sites like Butler Hospital's Memory and Aging Program.
One such upcoming trial is the Alzheimer's Tau Platform Trial (ATP Trial), which is investigating an experimental medicine that targets tau—a protein known to be involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
The APT Web Study is not limited to Rhode Island. Participants can share the study with family members and friends across the country, as the program is supported by multiple research sites nationwide.
A Trusted, Evidence-Based Resource
Unlike the many memory quizzes and cognitive tests that circulate online, the APT Web Study is a legitimate, evidence-based research initiative backed by institutions including Brigham and Women's Hospital, the USC Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, and the Cleveland Clinic.
"It's entirely free and not clickbait," Dr. Riddle confirmed. "It does ask you to input your information so that it can send you the results, and then there's a series of memory and thinking assessments collected at different time points over the course of time."
Those interested in a more thorough, in-person evaluation can also contact the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital directly for a new patient evaluation, which can connect individuals to clinical treatments and research trials.
To sign up for the APT Web Study, visit www.aptwebstudy.org.