The Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative: progress report and future plans

Abstract

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) beginning in October 2004, is a 6-year research project that studies changes of cognition, function, brain structure and function, and biomarkers in elderly controls, subjects with mild cognitive impairment, and subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD). A major goal is to determine and validate MRI, PET images, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/blood biomarkers as predictors and outcomes for use in clinical trials of AD treatments. Structural MRI, FDG PET, C-11 Pittsburgh compound B (PIB) PET, CSF measurements of amyloid beta (Abeta) and species of tau, with clinical/cognitive measurements were performed on elderly controls, subjects with mild cognitive impairment, and subjects with AD. Structural MRI shows high rates of brain atrophy, and has high statistical power for determining treatment effects. FDG PET, C-11 Pittsburgh compound B PET, and CSF measurements of Abeta and tau were significant predictors of cognitive decline and brain atrophy. All data are available at UCLA/LONI/ADNI, without embargo. ADNI-like projects started in Australia, Europe, Japan, and Korea. ADNI provides significant new information concerning the progression of AD.

Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Figures

Fig. 1

Overall model of changes in the progression from normal aging to MCI to AD.

Fig. 2

Patient recruitment sites in ADNI (provided by Sarah Walter at ADCS).

Fig. 3

Governance and organization of ADNI.

Fig. 4

Map showing all ADNI and ADNI-like efforts in the world (Figure kindly provided by Maria Carillo of the Alzheimer’s Association).