Early Diagnosis of SCD Based on Radiogenomics

August 20, 2026 updated by: Ying Han

Comparison of Subjective Cognitive Decline Between the German and Chinese and Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease Based on Radiogenomics

The incidence of AD dementia is increasing due to the aging population, putting a heavy burden on our society and economics. Exploring the mechanisms underlying SCD due to preclinical AD has scientific and clinical significance. However, it is challenging to construct and validate the preclinical diagnosis model of AD with fused multimodel information across culture/race. From the cooperation during the past five years, we have established cohorts by synchronized assessment, achieved consensus on SCD features extraction and made a breakthrough in the application of multiple parameter MRI with German collaborators. Therefore, in this project, SCD with and without amyloid pathology will be compared by clinical and cognitive data, genetics, blood and MRI biomarkers between the German and Chinese. Key features will be extracted and specific characteristics of SCD due to preclinical AD as well as risk factors for conversion between two countries will be clarified. Then the diagnosis model of preclinical AD in SCD will be established across culture/race based on radiogenomics, which will improve the current diagnostic system of AD. Through this project, the value of SCD in the etiologic, anatomical and quantitative diagnosis of preclinical AD will be identified to improve sensitivity and specificity of preclinical AD diagnosis in clinical practice.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The overall prevalence of dementia worldwide is increasing, imposing a heavy burden on the public and health care systems. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), characterized by a self-report of decline in cognitive function without objective impairment in neuropsychological assessments, is considered a high risk factor for AD. SCD with amyloidopathy is considered as a first symptomatic indicator of the preclinical AD (SCD due to preclinical AD). However, how to construct and validate the preclinical diagnosis model of AD with fused multimodel information across culture/race remain unclear.

In the present study, all SCD participants from Germany and China will be conducted amyloid PET scanning, and they will be classified into two groups (SCD with amyloid+ and SCD with amyloid-) based on whether there is the evidence of amyloid deposition. The investigators will compare the clinical information, genetics, blood and multiple parameter MRI data between the German and Chinese to evaluate the common and specific features from different culture/race. Then, key features associated with amyloid deposition will be extracted for the establisment of diagnosis model of SCD due to preclinical AD, which will improve the current diagnostic system of AD. After four-year follow-up, SCD will be classified into SCD converter group and SCD non-converter group. Risk factors for conversion to cognitive impairment and dementia will be further extracted as predicted biomarkers.

Through this project, the value of SCD in the etiologic, anatomical and quantitative diagnosis of preclinical AD will be identified to improve sensitivity and specificity of preclinical AD diagnosis in clinical practice.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

800

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

  • China
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100053
        • Department of Neurolgy, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University

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

60 years to 79 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

SCD may serve as a first symptomatic indicator during the preclinical stage of AD. SCD with amyloidopathy had a risk of progressing to AD dementia. In this study, all participants from two centers in Germany and China will be classified into two groups (SCD with amyloid+ and SCD with amyloid-) based on the amyloid PET. In addition, the participants will conduct multiple parameter MRI scanning, clinical data collection, blood biomarkers and gene examination. The investigators aim to reveal the common risk factors associated with amyloid deposition based on clinical, neuroimaging, and genetic information from two countries.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 60-79 years old, right-handed and Mandarin-speaking subjects;
  • self-experienced persistent decline in cognitive capacity in comparison with a previously normal status and unrelated to an acute event;
  • normal age-, gender- and education-adjusted performance on standardised cognitive tests;
  • concerns (worries) associated with memory complaint;
  • failure to meet the criteria for MCI or dementia

Exclusion Criteria:

  • a history of stroke;
  • major depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score > 24 points);
  • other central nervous system diseases that may cause cognitive impairment, such as Parkinson's disease, tumors, encephalitis and epilepsy;
  • cognitive impairment caused by traumatic brain injury;
  • systemic diseases, such as thyroid dysfunction, syphilis and HIV;
  • a history of psychosis or congenital mental growth retardation

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
SCD subjects with positive amyloid
In this study, the participants are from two research centers in China and Germany. All participants will conduct amyloid PET scanning, after which they are classified into two grous (SCD with amyloid+ and SCD with amyloid-). SCD subjects with positive amyloid show the evidence of amyloid deposition in brain. They have higher risk of conversion to mild cognitive impairment and dementia compared with SCD with negative amyloid. They are also considered as preclinical AD.
Diagnostic test: Multiple features extraction
In the present study, the "gold standard" of preclinical AD is amyloid PET. SCD with positive amyloid is the target population for early AD intervention. The investigators aim to extract the diagnostic features from multiple parameter MRI, genetic, blood and clinical data using Max-Relevance and Min-Redundancy (mRMR) algorithm. Then, based on support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and multi-kernel learning (MKL) classification methods, the investigators will construct predicted diagnostic model of preclinical AD.
SCD subjects with negative amyloid
In this study, the participants are from two research centers in China and Germany. All participants will conduct amyloid PET scanning, after which they are classified into two grous (SCD with amyloid+ and SCD with amyloid-). SCD subjects with negative amyloid do not show the evidence of amyloid deposition in brain. They have lower risk of conversion to mild cognitive impairment and dementia compared with SCD with positive amyloid.
Diagnostic test: Multiple features extraction
In the present study, the "gold standard" of preclinical AD is amyloid PET. SCD with positive amyloid is the target population for early AD intervention. The investigators aim to extract the diagnostic features from multiple parameter MRI, genetic, blood and clinical data using Max-Relevance and Min-Redundancy (mRMR) algorithm. Then, based on support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and multi-kernel learning (MKL) classification methods, the investigators will construct predicted diagnostic model of preclinical AD.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Biomarkers associated with amyloid deposition
Time Frame: Four years
SCD with the evidence of brain amyloid deposition is considered as preclinical AD. The investigators aim to extract multiple features involving neuroimaging, gene sequencing, blood, and clinical data to identify individuals with amyloid+ from SCD persons. These features associated with amyloid deposition are valuable biomarkers for early diagnosis of AD.
Four years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Predicted biomarkers associated with conversion to cognitive impairment
Time Frame: Four years
Individuals with SCD will be followed for four years. The investigators aim to characterize those who convert to mild cognitive impairment or dementia during the follow-up, and further find the predicted factors associated with the progression of AD.
Four years

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Ying Han

Collaborators

University of Cologne

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jessen Frank, PhD, University of Cologne
  • Principal Investigator: Ying Han, PhD, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University

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)

January 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 3, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 3, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

January 6, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 21, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 20, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HanYingsc5

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The information of neuropsychological tests, neuroimaging data are to be shared with other researchers.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

When summary data are published or starting 6 months after publication.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The information of neuropsychological tests, neuroimaging data will be shared.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

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.

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