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Understanding disease progression and improving Alzheimer's disease clinical trials: Recent highlights from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Veitch, DP; Weiner, MW; Aisen, PS; Beckett, LA; Cairns, NJ; Green, RC; Harvey, D; Jack, CR; Jagust, W; Morris, JC; Petersen, RC; Saykin, AJ ...
Published in: Alzheimers Dement
January 2019

INTRODUCTION: The overall goal of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is to validate biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials. ADNI is a multisite, longitudinal, observational study that has collected many biomarkers since 2004. Recent publications highlight the multifactorial nature of late-onset AD. We discuss selected topics that provide insights into AD progression and outline how this knowledge may improve clinical trials. METHODS: We used standard methods to identify nearly 600 publications using ADNI data from 2016 and 2017 (listed in Supplementary Material and searchable at http://adni.loni.usc.edu/news-publications/publications/). RESULTS: (1) Data-driven AD progression models supported multifactorial interactions rather than a linear cascade of events. (2) β-Amyloid (Aβ) deposition occurred concurrently with functional connectivity changes within the default mode network in preclinical subjects and was followed by specific and progressive disconnection of functional and anatomical networks. (3) Changes in functional connectivity, volumetric measures, regional hypometabolism, and cognition were detectable at subthreshold levels of Aβ deposition. 4. Tau positron emission tomography imaging studies detailed a specific temporal and spatial pattern of tau pathology dependent on prior Aβ deposition, and related to subsequent cognitive decline. 5. Clustering studies using a wide range of modalities consistently identified a "typical AD" subgroup and a second subgroup characterized by executive impairment and widespread cortical atrophy in preclinical and prodromal subjects. 6. Vascular pathology burden may act through both Aβ dependent and independent mechanisms to exacerbate AD progression. 7. The APOE ε4 allele interacted with cerebrovascular disease to impede Aβ clearance mechanisms. 8. Genetic approaches identified novel genetic risk factors involving a wide range of processes, and demonstrated shared genetic risk for AD and vascular disorders, as well as the temporal and regional pathological associations of established AD risk alleles. 9. Knowledge of early pathological changes guided the development of novel prognostic biomarkers for preclinical subjects. 10. Placebo populations of randomized controlled clinical trials had highly variable trajectories of cognitive change, underscoring the importance of subject selection and monitoring. 11. Selection criteria based on Aβ positivity, hippocampal volume, baseline cognitive/functional measures, and APOE ε4 status in combination with improved cognitive outcome measures were projected to decrease clinical trial duration and cost. 12. Multiple concurrent therapies targeting vascular health and other AD pathology in addition to Aβ may be more effective than single therapies. DISCUSSION: ADNI publications from 2016 and 2017 supported the idea of AD as a multifactorial disease and provided insights into the complexities of AD disease progression. These findings guided the development of novel biomarkers and suggested that subject selection on the basis of multiple factors may lower AD clinical trial costs and duration. The use of multiple concurrent therapies in these trials may prove more effective in reversing AD disease progression.

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Published In

Alzheimers Dement

DOI

EISSN

1552-5279

Publication Date

January 2019

Volume

15

Issue

1

Start / End Page

106 / 152

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • tau Proteins
  • Neuroimaging
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Disease Progression
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Brain
  • Biomarkers
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Alzheimer Disease
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Veitch, D. P., Weiner, M. W., Aisen, P. S., Beckett, L. A., Cairns, N. J., Green, R. C., … Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, . (2019). Understanding disease progression and improving Alzheimer's disease clinical trials: Recent highlights from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Alzheimers Dement, 15(1), 106–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2018.08.005
Veitch, Dallas P., Michael W. Weiner, Paul S. Aisen, Laurel A. Beckett, Nigel J. Cairns, Robert C. Green, Danielle Harvey, et al. “Understanding disease progression and improving Alzheimer's disease clinical trials: Recent highlights from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.Alzheimers Dement 15, no. 1 (January 2019): 106–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2018.08.005.
Veitch DP, Weiner MW, Aisen PS, Beckett LA, Cairns NJ, Green RC, et al. Understanding disease progression and improving Alzheimer's disease clinical trials: Recent highlights from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Alzheimers Dement. 2019 Jan;15(1):106–52.
Veitch, Dallas P., et al. “Understanding disease progression and improving Alzheimer's disease clinical trials: Recent highlights from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.Alzheimers Dement, vol. 15, no. 1, Jan. 2019, pp. 106–52. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.08.005.
Veitch DP, Weiner MW, Aisen PS, Beckett LA, Cairns NJ, Green RC, Harvey D, Jack CR, Jagust W, Morris JC, Petersen RC, Saykin AJ, Shaw LM, Toga AW, Trojanowski JQ, Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Understanding disease progression and improving Alzheimer's disease clinical trials: Recent highlights from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Alzheimers Dement. 2019 Jan;15(1):106–152.
Journal cover image

Published In

Alzheimers Dement

DOI

EISSN

1552-5279

Publication Date

January 2019

Volume

15

Issue

1

Start / End Page

106 / 152

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • tau Proteins
  • Neuroimaging
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Disease Progression
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Brain
  • Biomarkers
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Alzheimer Disease