Digital Solutions for Predicting the Biological Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease Through the Analysis of Risk Factors (PrevAl)

July 23, 2026 updated by: Prof. Barbara Borroni, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli

Development of Digital Solutions for the Prediction of the Biological Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease Through the Analysis of Risk Factors (PrevAI)

Population ageing is one of the main factors responsible for the global increase in the prevalence of dementia. Recent evidence suggests that modifiable risk factors, such as cardiovascular disease and lifestyle, may increase the risk of developing dementia and contribute to its progression. Furthermore, the use of non-invasive plasma biomarkers enables the identification of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, even in the prodromal stage. However, the relationship between the cumulative burden of risk factors and plasma biomarkers is still poorly understood.

The main objective of this study is to identify and estimate the risk associated with modifiable and non-modifiable predictors (risk factors) linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-AD dementia, as well as biological alterations consistent with AD or non-AD, through the development of a predictive tool based on Artificial Intelligence algorithms (Machine Learning model). The study also aims to provide a range of technological tools (an app for active patient monitoring and a web platform for clinicians) that could improve risk stratification and the personalisation of care pathways.

The study is divided into two different phases. Firstly, a retrospective phase is conducted in order to construct a predictive model for the risk of dementia and biological alterations consistent with AD. Secondly, a prospective phase is performed for the validation of the predictive model.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

240

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • BS
      • Brescia, BS, Italy, 25123
      • Brescia, BS, Italy, 25125
        • Recruiting
        • IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio - Fatebenefratelli
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Barbara Borroni, MD
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female subjects aged more than 18 years at the time of signing the informed consent form;
  • Subjects with MCI or SCD who, at the time of their first visit, did not have a clinical diagnosis of dementia (MMSE ≥ 24);
  • Smartphone user.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Age younger than that stated in the inclusion criterion;
  • Inability to understand.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Screening
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Subjects with MCI or SCD

The intervention consists of a mobile application ("app") for risk monitoring with gamified patient engagement, which is design to support remote health monitoring and participant adherence to the study. Participants will enter informative clinical variables every 3 months, including weight, height, age, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. The app generates a qualitative risk assessment (low/medium/high) based on entered data, intended as a clinical monitoring support tool for the participating sites and not as a diagnostic tool that replaces medical evaluation and/or clinical judgment.

Unlike standard data collection apps, the intervention provides continuous engagement incentives in the form of visual feedback and motivational messaging.

Other Names:
  • App for active patient monitoring

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Conversion rate to dementia
Time Frame: From enrollment to 3-6 months after enrollment
Risk score that assesses the individual risk associated with predictors linked to (i) the development of AD and non-AD dementia, and (ii) biological biological changes consistent with AD or non-AD pathology.
From enrollment to 3-6 months after enrollment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Collaborators

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 24, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 28, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • PrevAl

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.