Preventing Alzheimer's in People with Inherited Genetic Risk
DIAN-TU Primary Prevention Trial
This project tests whether a treatment given before amyloid builds up can stop or delay Alzheimer's in people who carry an inherited Alzheimer’s gene and are still symptom-free.
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-11377930 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a randomized, placebo-controlled trial that follows participants for about four years to see if a therapy can prevent amyloid plaque from forming. The trial enrolls adults who carry dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s mutations but have no symptoms and very little amyloid on brain PET scans. Participants are assigned by chance to receive the study drug or a placebo and undergo regular biomarker testing, imaging, and cognitive checks. The trial is run through the DIAN-TU network across many international sites and uses standardized measures to track early changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Asymptomatic adults who are confirmed carriers of a dominantly inherited Alzheimer's mutation, are more than 15 years before their estimated symptom onset, and have minimal or no amyloid on PET imaging.
Not a fit: People without a dominantly inherited Alzheimer's mutation, those already symptomatic, or those with substantial amyloid plaque at entry are unlikely to benefit from this prevention trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could prevent or delay amyloid buildup and later cognitive decline in people with dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s mutations.
How similar studies have performed: Anti-amyloid trials in symptomatic or amyloid-positive individuals have shown mixed results, and doing primary prevention before amyloid appears is a newer and less-tested approach.
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.