Preventing Alzheimer's in people with inherited genetic risk
DIAN-TU Primary Prevention Trial
This project gives an experimental anti-amyloid treatment or a placebo to people who carry a hereditary Alzheimer's gene but have no symptoms, aiming to stop amyloid build-up before dementia begins.
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-11377932 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a randomized, blinded trial that gives either an experimental anti-amyloid treatment or a placebo and follows participants for four years. The trial plans to enroll about 160 adults who carry a dominantly inherited Alzheimer's mutation, are cognitively normal, and are more than 15 years before their family's expected symptom onset. Participants will have PET scans, other biomarker tests, and regular cognitive checks to see if amyloid plaques are prevented and thinking remains stable. The goal is to prevent amyloid deposition before plaques form rather than treating after pathology appears.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who carry a known dominantly inherited Alzheimer's mutation, are currently symptom-free, and are more than 15 years before their estimated year of symptom onset with little or no amyloid on PET scans.
Not a fit: People who do not carry an inherited Alzheimer's mutation, who already have cognitive symptoms, or who have significant amyloid plaque burden are unlikely to benefit from this prevention effort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could prevent or delay amyloid plaque formation and postpone or stop dementia in people with inherited Alzheimer's mutations.
How similar studies have performed: Previous anti-amyloid efforts have lowered amyloid on brain scans in some trials but have not yet clearly prevented dementia, and testing treatments before plaques form is a newer 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.