Preventing Alzheimer's in Families with Inherited Mutations
DIAN-TU Primary Prevention Trial
This project tests a treatment designed to stop amyloid buildup in people who carry inherited Alzheimer's mutations before they have any symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11175976 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, I would be enrolled in a four-year, randomized, double-blind study comparing an active treatment to placebo aimed at preventing amyloid plaques from forming. The trial enrolls adults who carry dominantly inherited Alzheimer's mutations but are still cognitively normal and far from their family's expected symptom onset. Participants will have regular biomarker checks such as brain PET scans and fluid tests to see whether amyloid deposition is blocked. The study is run at DIAN-TU sites in multiple countries and languages so follow-up visits will occur at participating centers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are cognitively normal adults who carry a known dominantly inherited Alzheimer's mutation, are more than 15 years before their estimated symptom onset, and have little or no amyloid on baseline scans.
Not a fit: People without a dominantly inherited Alzheimer's mutation, those already showing cognitive symptoms, or those with substantial amyloid plaque at baseline are unlikely to benefit from this prevention-focused trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could delay or prevent Alzheimer's symptoms in people with inherited mutations by stopping amyloid from forming.
How similar studies have performed: Prior anti-amyloid trials in symptomatic patients largely failed to show clear cognitive benefit, and DIAN-TU has completed secondary prevention studies, making this primary prevention approach novel and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdade, Eric Martin — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Mcdade, Eric Martin
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.