Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative: Advancing biomarkers and recruitment for dementia research
Official title: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI4)
Funded at Northern California Institute/res/edu · NIH-11592261 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH-supported project is continuing to collect and share brain imaging, biofluid, genetic, and clinical data to validate biomarkers for Alzheimer’s trials and to recruit people at higher risk of dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern California Institute/res/edu NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2004 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $73,745 |
| NIH project number | 3U19AG024904-19S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11592261 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at elevated risk for dementia or those with early cognitive changes who might participate in future biomarker studies or trials.
✕Less likely to help
The study itself does not test a treatment for an individual patient.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one is affected by Alzheimer's or related dementias, this project helps build and share a big set of brain scans, biofluids, and genetic information to improve how future trials are designed. It prioritizes validating biomarkers and expanding participation of individuals at elevated risk for dementia through dedicated recruiters and digital support. The initiative will maintain data and biospecimen repositories and follow participants from previous studies to understand how biomarkers relate to cognitive decline. By making data widely available, this effort aims to accelerate the development of better prevention and treatment strategies. The project also includes a digital marketing component to screen and longitudinally assess at-risk individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could speed the development of earlier and more effective treatments and provide researchers with richer data to design better dementia trials.
How similar studies have gone: ADNI has a long track record with hundreds of publications and has informed major trial designs and approvals, including aducanumab-related work.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern California Institute/res/edu
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weiner, Michael W — Northern California Institute/res/edu
- Study coordinator: Weiner, Michael W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
-
Telomerase in Alzheimer’s Disease: how aging biology could influence memory and brain health
Researchers are exploring a new brain-aging mechanism linked to telomerase, with potential to slow or modify Alzheimer’s disease in people and improve cognitive function.
-
Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Sensory, Motor, and Cognitive Clues
Researchers are testing simple sensory and movement tasks to find early signs of Alzheimer’s disease so they can diagnose and treat people sooner.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.