How factors affect when Alzheimer's markers appear and when dementia begins
Multi-cohort study of factors that influence Alzheimer's disease biomarker and dementia timing
Uses brain scans, blood/spinal fluid tests, and genetic information from older adults with early Alzheimer's markers to estimate when brain changes start and what speeds or slows the move to dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237563 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are someone with early Alzheimer's markers or enrolled in a memory research program, this work combines data from several long-term research groups that include brain imaging, amyloid and tau measurements in blood or spinal fluid, genetics (like APOE ε4), and cognitive testing. The team applies a new "Amyloid Clock" method that estimates each person’s amyloid onset age so all observations can be aligned along a common Alzheimer’s timeline. They then search for medical, genetic, or lifestyle factors that make the preclinical period shorter or longer to better predict who will develop dementia sooner. The project analyzes existing cohort data rather than testing a new drug, and its findings could help identify people for future prevention trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults who have biomarker evidence of Alzheimer's pathology (for example amyloid positivity) and are enrolled or eligible for long-term memory research cohorts.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's biomarkers, those with advanced symptomatic dementia, or those not enrolled in the participating cohorts are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give people a clearer idea of their likely timing for cognitive decline and help target preventive treatments to the right time window.
How similar studies have performed: Prior biomarker studies have linked amyloid, tau, and APOE to dementia risk, but using individualized estimated amyloid onset age to align timelines is a newer approach that aims to improve timing predictions.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Betthauser, Tobey James — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Betthauser, Tobey James
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 below.