Preventing inherited Alzheimer's disease (DIAN-TU)
DIAN-TU Primary Prevention Trial
Seeing if an anti-amyloid treatment given early can stop Alzheimer's changes in people who carry a genetic form of 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-11377923 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This is a 4-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling about 160 people who carry a dominantly inherited Alzheimer's mutation and are more than 15 years before their expected symptom onset. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the study therapy or placebo and will have regular brain imaging (amyloid PET), cognitive testing, and blood or CSF biomarker sampling to track amyloid deposition. The trial focuses on people with minimal or no amyloid on PiB PET at entry and operates across multiple DIAN-TU sites in several countries with materials in many languages. Study visits involve in-person assessments at participating centers and standardized biomarker measurements to see if pathology can be prevented.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who carry a dominantly inherited Alzheimer's mutation, have no cognitive symptoms, are more than 15 years before their expected symptom onset, and show minimal or no amyloid on PET scans.
Not a fit: People without a familial Alzheimer's mutation, those who already have significant amyloid or cognitive symptoms, or those outside the expected-onset window are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could prevent or delay amyloid buildup and future dementia in people with inherited Alzheimer's risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials that lowered amyloid in people with established pathology have sometimes reduced plaques but have not consistently shown clear cognitive benefit, so primary prevention 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.