Preventing Alzheimer's in a Colombian family with an inherited PSEN1 gene change
Official title: Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative ADAD Colombia Trial Program
Funded at Banner Health · NIH-11176892 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether treatments that lower brain amyloid can delay or prevent Alzheimer's in people from a Colombian family who carry a genetic mutation that usually causes dementia in midlife.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Banner Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phoenix, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $15,521,010 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG086363-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176892 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adult members of the Colombian PSEN1 E280A kindred who carry the mutation and are in the years before their expected symptom onset.
✕Less likely to help
People without the PSEN1 E280A mutation, those with advanced symptomatic Alzheimer's, or patients whose disease is driven by other causes are unlikely to benefit from this specific prevention program.
What this research studies
Researchers built a prevention program around the world's largest known family with the PSEN1 E280A mutation, identifying thousands of relatives including many who are almost certain to develop Alzheimer's in midlife. The program runs interventional studies in Colombia using infusions of anti-amyloid therapies, brain imaging (PET and MRI), blood and CSF biomarker tests, and regular cognitive and functional exams. Local infusion and imaging capacity, ethical and social supports, and sample-sharing agreements were established so participants can complete long-term follow-up close to home. The team tracks changes in amyloid, tau, plasma p-tau, and other biomarkers alongside memory and daily function to see if treating amyloid prevents or delays symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could delay or prevent symptomatic Alzheimer's in people at very high genetic risk and help validate biomarkers for early prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Recent antibody trials (lecanemab, donanemab) showed meaningful clinical benefit and large amyloid reductions in mildly impaired late-onset Alzheimer's patients, supporting amyloid-targeting approaches though prevention in inherited AD is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
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Banner Health
Phoenix, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alexander, Robert C — Banner Health
- Study coordinator: Alexander, Robert C
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.