Principal Investigators


Nick Fox

Institution


University College London

Contact information of lead PI


Country


United Kingdom

Title of project or programme


Determining the causes and consequences of brain amyloidosis, atrophy and cerebrovascular disease

Source of funding information


Alzheimer's Research UK

Total sum awarded (Euro)


€ 2,473,105

Start date of award


01/07/2014

Total duration of award in years


3.0

The project/programme is most relevant to:


Alzheimer's disease & other dementias

Keywords


Research Abstract


Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has a long prodromal phase when pathology accumulates before cognitive decline. Biomarkers including MRI/PET/CSF allow aspects of AD pathology to be quantified in vivo, opening a pre-symptomatic window for disease prevention strategies. It is however unknown:
(a) which factors influence beta-amyloid deposition, a critical early pathogenic step;
(b) if individuals accumulating sufficient beta-amyloid will inevitably develop AD should they live long enough and if so what influences when; and
(c) how beta-amyloid interacts with other pathologies to influence cognitive decline.
We will capitalise on the unique life-course data of the MRC 1946 birth cohort a representative,intensively studied UK cohort now in their 60s by enrolling 500 study members in a two-time-point (0,24m) study involving MRI and amyloid PET, detailed cognitive testing, wet biomarkers and genotyping.
We aim to:
(1) identify pre-symptomatic AD and associated biomarkers;
(2) investigate life-course and genetic influences on symptom onset and progression; and
(3) provide a critical evidence base for future trials.
This work will inform pre-clinical AD therapeutic study design: from inclusion criteria to outcome measures. Risk factors identified may be targets for drug development, and may already be amenable to modification.

Lay Summary


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