Preventing amyloid in people with inherited Alzheimer's risk
DIAN-TU Primary Prevention Trial
This trial is testing whether a treatment can stop amyloid buildup in people who carry genes that cause early‑onset Alzheimer’s but have no symptoms yet.
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-11376967 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a global effort that enrolls adults who carry a dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s mutation but are cognitively normal and more than 15 years from their expected symptom onset. Participants are randomly assigned (1:1) to receive active treatment or placebo in a double‑blind design and are followed for about four years. The main goal is to see whether the treatment prevents amyloid plaque from forming, using PET scans and other biomarkers as endpoints. The platform runs at multiple international DIAN‑TU sites and includes detailed clinical and imaging visits during the trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who carry a dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s mutation, are currently cognitively normal, have minimal or no amyloid on PET, and are more than 15 years before their estimated symptom onset are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who do not carry a dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s mutation, who already have cognitive symptoms, or who show substantial amyloid plaque at screening are unlikely to benefit from joining this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could prevent or delay amyloid plaque formation and potentially postpone dementia in people with inherited Alzheimer's mutations.
How similar studies have performed: Previous secondary‑prevention trials targeting amyloid after pathology appears have shown biomarker changes but limited clear clinical benefit, and this primary‑prevention approach is relatively novel.
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.