1. |
- Vogel, Jacob W., et al.
(author)
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Four distinct trajectories of tau deposition identified in Alzheimer’s disease
- 2021
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In: Nature Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1078-8956 .- 1546-170X. ; 27:5, s. 871-881
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the spread of tau pathology throughout the cerebral cortex. This spreading pattern was thought to be fairly consistent across individuals, although recent work has demonstrated substantial variability in the population with AD. Using tau-positron emission tomography scans from 1,612 individuals, we identified 4 distinct spatiotemporal trajectories of tau pathology, ranging in prevalence from 18 to 33%. We replicated previously described limbic-predominant and medial temporal lobe-sparing patterns, while also discovering posterior and lateral temporal patterns resembling atypical clinical variants of AD. These ‘subtypes’ were stable during longitudinal follow-up and were replicated in a separate sample using a different radiotracer. The subtypes presented with distinct demographic and cognitive profiles and differing longitudinal outcomes. Additionally, network diffusion models implied that pathology originates and spreads through distinct corticolimbic networks in the different subtypes. Together, our results suggest that variation in tau pathology is common and systematic, perhaps warranting a re-examination of the notion of ‘typical AD’ and a revisiting of tau pathological staging. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.
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2. |
- Zhou, XP, et al.
(author)
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Non-coding variability at the APOE locus contributes to the Alzheimer's risk
- 2019
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1, s. 3310-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a leading cause of mortality in the elderly. While the coding change of APOE-ε4 is a key risk factor for late-onset AD and has been believed to be the only risk factor in the APOE locus, it does not fully explain the risk effect conferred by the locus. Here, we report the identification of AD causal variants in PVRL2 and APOC1 regions in proximity to APOE and define common risk haplotypes independent of APOE-ε4 coding change. These risk haplotypes are associated with changes of AD-related endophenotypes including cognitive performance, and altered expression of APOE and its nearby genes in the human brain and blood. High-throughput genome-wide chromosome conformation capture analysis further supports the roles of these risk haplotypes in modulating chromatin states and gene expression in the brain. Our findings provide compelling evidence for additional risk factors in the APOE locus that contribute to AD pathogenesis.
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3. |
- Dyer, A. H., et al.
(author)
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Cognitive Outcomes of Long-term Benzodiazepine and Related Drug (BDZR) Use in People Living With Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease: Results From NILVAD
- 2020
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In: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. - : Elsevier BV. - 1525-8610. ; 21:2, s. 194-200
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Benzodiazepines and related drugs (BDZRs) have been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in later life. Despite this, it remains unclear whether ongoing BDZR use may further accelerate cognitive decline in those diagnosed with mild to moderate AD. Design: This study was embedded within NILVAD, a randomized controlled trial of nilvadipine in mild to moderate AD. Cognition was measured at baseline and 18 months using the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale, Cognitive Subsection (ADAS-Cog). We assessed predictors of long-term BDZR use and analyzed the effect of ongoing BDZR use on ADAS-Cog scores at 18 months. Additionally, the impact of BDZR use on adverse events, incident delirium, and falls over 18-month follow-up was assessed adjusting for relevant covariates. Setting and Participants: 448 participants with mild to moderate AD recruited from 23 academic centers in 9 European countries. Results: Overall, 14% (62/448) were prescribed an ongoing BDZR for the study duration. Increasing total number of (non-BDZR) medications was associated with a greater likelihood of BDZR prescription (odds ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.29). At 18 months, BDZR use was not associated with greater cognitive decline on the ADAS-Cog controlling for baseline ADAS-Cog scores, age, gender, study arm, and other clinical covariates (beta = 1.62, -1.34 to 4.56). However, ongoing BDZR use was associated with a greater likelihood of adverse events [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.19, 1.05-1.34], incident delirium (IRR 2.31, 1.45-3.68), and falls (IRR 1.66, 1.02-2.65) over 18 months that persisted after robust adjustment for covariates. Conclusions and Implications: This study found no effect of ongoing BDZR use on ADAS-Cog scores in those with mild to moderate AD over 18 months. However, ongoing use of these medications was associated with an increased risk of adverse events, delirium, and falls. Thus, BDZR use should be avoided where possible and deprescribing interventions should be encouraged in older adults with AD. (C) 2019 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
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4. |
- de Heus, R. A. A., et al.
(author)
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Blood Pressure Lowering With Nilvadipine in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer Disease Does Not Increase the Prevalence of Orthostatic Hypotension
- 2019
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In: Journal of the American Heart Association. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 2047-9980. ; 8:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background-Hypertension is common among patients with Alzheimer disease. Because this group has been excluded from hypertension trials, evidence regarding safety of treatment is lacking. This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial assessed whether antihypertensive treatment increases the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in patients with Alzheimer disease. Methods and Results-Four hundred seventy-seven patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease were randomized to the calcium-channel blocker nilvadipine 8 mg/day or placebo for 78 weeks. Presence of OH (blood pressure drop >= 20/>= 10 mm Hg after 1 minute of standing) and OH-related adverse events (dizziness, syncope, falls, and fractures) was determined at 7 follow-up visits. Mean age of the study population was 72.2 +/- 8.2 years and mean Mini-Mental State Examination score was 20.4 +/- 3.8. Baseline blood pressure was 137.8 +/- 14.0/77.0 +/- 8.6 mm Hg. Grade I hypertension was present in 53.4% (n=255). After 13 weeks, blood pressure had fallen by -7.8/-3.9 mm Hg for nilvadipine and by -0.4/-0.8 mm Hg for placebo (P<0.001). Across the 78-week intervention period, there was no difference between groups in the proportion of patients with OH at a study visit (odds ratio [95% CI] 1.1 [0.8-1.5], P 0.62), nor in the proportion of visits where a patient met criteria for OH, corrected for number of visits (7.7 +/- 13.8% versus 7.3 +/- 11.6%). OH-related adverse events were not more often reported in the intervention group compared with placebo. Results were similar for those with baseline hypertension. Conclusions-This study suggests that initiation of a low dose of antihypertensive treatment does not significantly increase the risk of OH in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease.
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5. |
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6. |
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7. |
- Cavedo, E, et al.
(author)
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The Road Ahead to Cure Alzheimer's Disease: Development of Biological Markers and Neuroimaging Methods for Prevention Trials Across all Stages and Target Populations
- 2014
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In: The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease. - : SERDI. - 2274-5807. ; 1:3, s. 181-202
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slowly progressing non-linear dynamic brain disease in which pathophysiological abnormalities, detectable in vivo by biological markers, precede overt clinical symptoms by many years to decades. Use of these biomarkers for the detection of early and preclinical AD has become of central importance following publication of two international expert working group's revised criteria for the diagnosis of AD dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD, prodromal AD and preclinical AD. As a consequence of matured research evidence six AD biomarkers are sufficiently validated and partly qualified to be incorporated into operationalized clinical diagnostic criteria and use in primary and secondary prevention trials. These biomarkers fall into two molecular categories: biomarkers of amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition and plaque formation as well as of tau-protein related hyperphosphorylation and neurodegeneration. Three of the six gold-standard ("core feasible) biomarkers are neuroimaging measures and three are cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analytes. CSF Aβ 1-42 (Aβ1-42), also expressed as Aβ1-42 : Aβ1- 40 ratio, T-tau, and P-tau Thr181 & Thr231 proteins have proven diagnostic accuracy and risk enhancement in prodromal MCI and AD dementia. Conversely, having all three biomarkers in the normal range rules out AD. Intermediate conditions require further patient follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at increasing field strength and resolution allows detecting the evolution of distinct types of structural and functional abnormality pattern throughout early to late AD stages. Anatomical or volumetric MRI is the most widely used technique and provides local and global measures of atrophy. The revised diagnostic criteria for “prodromal AD” and "mild cognitive impairment due to AD" include hippocampal atrophy (as the fourth validated biomarker), which is considered an indicator of regional neuronal injury. Advanced image analysis techniques generate automatic and reproducible measures both in regions of interest, such as the hippocampus and in an exploratory fashion, observer and hypothesis-indedendent, throughout the entire brain. Evolving modalities such as diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and advanced tractography as well as resting-state functional MRI provide useful additionally useful measures indicating the degree of fiber tract and neural network disintegration (structural, effective and functional connectivity) that may substantially contribute to early detection and the mapping of progression. These modalities require further standardization and validation. The use of molecular in vivo amyloid imaging agents (the fifth validated biomarker), such as the Pittsburgh Compound-B and markers of neurodegeneration, such as fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) (as the sixth validated biomarker) support the detection of early AD pathological processes and associated neurodegeneration. How to use, interpret, and disclose biomarker results drives the need for optimized standardization. Multimodal AD biomarkers do not evolve in an identical manner but rather in a sequential but temporally overlapping fashion. Models of the temporal evolution of AD biomarkers can take the form of plots of biomarker severity (degree of abnormality) versus time. AD biomarkers can be combined to increase accuracy or risk. A list of genetic risk factors is increasingly included in secondary prevention trials to stratify and select individuals at genetic risk of AD. Although most of these biomarker candidates are not yet qualified and approved by regulatory authorities for their intended use in drug trials, they are nonetheless applied in ongoing clinical studies for the following functions: (i) inclusion/exclusion criteria, (ii) patient stratification, (iii) evaluation of treatment effect, (iv) drug target engagement, and (v) safety. Moreover, novel promising hypothesis-driven, as well as exploratory biochemical, genetic, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging markers for use in clinical trials are being developed. The current state-of-the-art and future perspectives on both biological and neuroimaging derived biomarker discovery and development as well as the intended application in prevention trials is outlined in the present publication.
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8. |
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9. |
- Hampel, H., et al.
(author)
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State-of-the-art of lumbar puncture and its place in the journey of patients with Alzheimer's disease
- 2022
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In: Alzheimers & Dementia. - : Wiley. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 18:1, s. 159-177
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent advances in developing disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the recognition that AD pathophysiology emerges decades before clinical symptoms, necessitate a paradigm shift of health-care systems toward biomarker-guided early detection, diagnosis, and therapeutic decision-making. Appropriate incorporation of cerebrospinal fluid biomarker analysis in clinical practice is an essential step toward system readiness for accommodating the demand of AD diagnosis and proper use of DMTs-once they become available. However, the use of lumbar puncture (LP) in individuals with suspected neurodegenerative diseases such as AD is inconsistent, and the perception of its utility and safety differs considerably among medical specialties as well as among regions and countries. This review describes the state-of-the-art evidence concerning the safety profile of LP in older adults, discusses the risk factors for LP-associated adverse events, and provides recommendations and an outlook for optimized use and global implementation of LP in individuals with suspected AD.
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10. |
- Hampel, H., et al.
(author)
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The amyloid-beta pathway in Alzheimer's disease: a plain language summary
- 2023
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In: Neurodegenerative Disease Management. - : Future Medicine Ltd. - 1758-2024 .- 1758-2032. ; 13:3, s. 141-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- What is this summary about? This plain language summary of an article published in Molecular Psychiatry, reviews the evidence supporting the role of the amyloid-b (Ab) pathway and its dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and highlights the rationale for drugs targeting the A beta pathway in the early stages of the disease. Why is this important? A beta is a protein fragment (or peptide) that exists in several forms distinguished by their size, shape/structure, degree of solubility and disease relevance. The accumulation of A beta plaques is a hallmark of AD. However, smaller, soluble aggregates of A beta - including Ab protofibrils - also play a role in the disease. Because A beta-related disease mechanisms are complex, the diagnosis, treatment and management of AD should be reflective of and guided by up-to-date scientific knowledge and research findings in this area. This article describes the A beta protein and its role in AD, summarizing the evidence showing that altered A beta clearance from the brain may lead to the imbalance, toxic buildup and misfolding of the protein - triggering a cascade of cellular, molecular and systematic events that ultimately lead to AD. What are the key takeaways? The physiological balance of brain A beta levels in the context of AD is complex. Despite many unanswered questions, mounting evidence indicates that A beta has a central role in driving AD progression. A better understanding of the A beta pathway biology will help identify the best therapeutic targets for AD and inform treatment approaches.
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11. |
- Hampel, H., et al.
(author)
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The use of lumbar puncture and safety recommendations in Alzheimer's disease: a plain language summary
- 2022
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In: Neurodegenerative Disease Management. - : Future Medicine Ltd. - 1758-2024 .- 1758-2032. ; 12:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- What is this summary about? This is a plain language summary of an article published in Alzheimer's & Dementia. It looks at a type of test called a lumbar puncture (also known as spinal tap) used in people suspected of having Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia. This summary focuses on how to do a lumbar puncture safely. Why is this important? Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, which means it gets worse over time. This leads to difficulties with thinking and memory. People with Alzheimer's disease show a build up of proteins called amyloid-beta and tau in the brain. This is followed by a gradual loss of brain cells and brain function. The changes in the brain are thought to occur years before symptoms appear. Lumbar puncture is a medical procedure during which samples of cerebrospinal fluid are collected. In Alzheimer's disease, it is used to examine cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers that can help diagnose disease. Lumbar puncture is traditionally considered as a painful and invasive procedure with frequent side effects. However, multiple studies indicate that a lumbar puncture can be performed safely. Side effects are typically mild and do not require specialist intervention. What are the key takeaways? Despite the low risk of serious complications associated with a lumbar puncture, physicians and their patients may be reluctant to recommend or undergo this procedure. Patient education, specialist training, as well as new methods concerning patient safety are important factors to support the widespread use of lumbar puncture in Alzheimer's disease.
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12. |
- Insel, P. S., et al.
(author)
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Biomarkers and cognitive endpoints to optimize trials in Alzheimer's disease
- 2015
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In: Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. - : Wiley. - 2328-9503. ; 2:5, s. 534-547
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To find the combination of candidate biomarkers and cognitive endpoints to maximize statistical power and minimize cost of clinical trials of healthy elders at risk for cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease. Methods: Four-hundred and twelve cognitively normal participants were followed over 7 years. Nonlinear methods were used to estimate the longitudinal trajectories of several cognitive outcomes including delayed memory recall, executive function, processing speed, and several cognitive composites by subgroups selected on the basis of biomarkers, including APOE-epsilon 4 allele carriers, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (A beta(42), total tau, and phosphorylated tau), and those with small hippocampi. Results: Derived cognitive composites combining Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS)-cog scores with additional delayed memory recall and executive function components captured decline more robustly across biomarker groups than any measure of a single cognitive domain or ADAS-cog alone. Substantial increases in power resulted when including only participants positive for three or more biomarkers in simulations of clinical trials. Interpretation: Clinical trial power may be improved by selecting participants on the basis of amyloid and neurodegeneration biomarkers and carefully tailoring primary cognitive endpoints to reflect the expected decline specific to these individuals.
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13. |
- Insel, P. S., et al.
(author)
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The transitional association between beta-amyloid pathology and regional brain atrophy
- 2015
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In: Alzheimers & Dementia. - : Wiley. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 11:10, s. 1171-1179
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid (A beta) associated with brain atrophy and cognitive decline. The functional form to model the association between A beta and regional brain atrophy has not been well defined. To determine the relationship between Ab and atrophy, we compared the performance of the usual dichotomization of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) A beta to identify subjects as A beta+ and A beta- with a trilinear spline model of CSF A beta. Methods: One hundred and eighty-three subjects with mild cognitive impairment and 108 cognitively normal controls with baseline CSFA beta and up to 4 years of longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were analyzed using mixed-effects regression. Piecewise-linear splines were used to evaluate the nonlinear nature of the association between CSF A beta and regional atrophy and to identify points of acceleration of atrophy with respect to A beta. Several parameterizations of CSFA beta were compared using likelihood ratio tests and the Akaike information criterion. Periods of acceleration of atrophy in which subjects transition from CSF A beta negativity to CSFA beta positivity were estimated from the spline models and tested for significance. Results: Spline models resulted in better fits for many temporal and parietal regions compared with the dichotomous models. The trilinear model showed that periods of acceleration of atrophy varied greatly by region with early changes seen in the insula, amygdala, precuneus, hippocampus, and other temporal regions, occurring before the clinical threshold for CSF A beta positivity. Discussion: The use of piecewise-linear splines provides an improved model of the nonlinear association between CSF A beta and regional atrophy in regions implicated in the progression of AD. The important biological finding of this work is that some brain regions show periods of accelerated volume loss well before the CSFA beta(42) threshold. This implies that signs of brain atrophy develop before the current conventional definition of "preclinical AD". (C) 2015 The Alzheimer's Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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14. |
- Lista, S., et al.
(author)
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Evolving Evidence for the Value of Neuroimaging Methods and Biological Markers in Subjects Categorized with Subjective Cognitive Decline
- 2015
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In: Journal of Alzheimers Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 48
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is evolving evidence that individuals categorized with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are potentially at higher risk for developing objective and progressive cognitive impairment compared to cognitively healthy individuals without apparent subjective complaints. Interestingly, SCD, during advancing preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD), may denote very early, subtle cognitive decline that cannot be identified using established standardized tests of cognitive performance. The substantial heterogeneity of existing SCD-related research data has led the Subjective Cognitive Decline Initiative (SCD-I) to accomplish an international consensus on the definition of a conceptual research framework on SCD in preclinical AD. In the area of biological markers, the cerebrospinal fluid signature of AD has been reported to be more prevalent in subjects with SCD compared to healthy controls; moreover, there is a pronounced atrophy, as demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging, and an increased hypometabolism, as revealed by positron emission tomography, in characteristic brain regions affected by AD. In addition, SCD individuals carrying an apolipoprotein epsilon 4 allele are more likely to display AD-phenotypic alterations. The urgent requirement to detect and diagnose AD as early as possible has led to the critical examination of the diagnostic power of biological markers, neurophysiology, and neuroimaging methods for AD-related risk and clinical progression in individuals defined with SCD. Observational studies on the predictive value of SCD for developing AD may potentially be of practical value, and an evidence-based, validated, qualified, and fully operationalized concept may inform clinical diagnostic practice and guide earlier designs in future therapy trials.
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15. |
- Mattsson, Niklas, 1979, et al.
(author)
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Brain structure and function as mediators of the effects of amyloid on memory
- 2015
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In: Neurology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0028-3878 .- 1526-632X. ; 84:11, s. 1136-1144
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective:The objective of this study was to test whether effects of -amyloid (A) pathology on episodic memory were mediated by metabolism and gray matter volume in the early stages of Alzheimer disease.Methods:This was a prospective cohort study. We measured baseline A (using florbetapir-PET), brain function (using fluorodeoxyglucose-PET), and brain structure (using MRI). A mediation analysis was performed to test whether statistical effects of A positivity on cross-sectional and longitudinal episodic memory were mediated by hypometabolism or regional gray matter volume in cognitively healthy controls (CN, n = 280) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 463).Results:Lower memory scores were associated with A positivity (CN, mildly; MCI, strongly), smaller gray matter volumes (CN, few regions, including hippocampus; MCI, widespread), and hypometabolism. Smaller volumes and hypometabolism mediated effects of A in MCI but not in CN. The strongest individual regions mediated up to approximately 25%. A combination of brain structure and function mediated up to approximately 40%. In several regions, gray matter atrophy and hypometabolism predicted episodic memory without being associated (at p < 0.05) with A positivity.Conclusions:Changes in brain structure and function appear to be, in part, downstream events from A pathology, ultimately resulting in episodic memory deficits. However, A pathology is also strongly related to memory deficits through mechanisms that are not quantified by these imaging measurements, and episodic memory decline is partly caused by Alzheimer disease-like brain changes independently of A pathology.
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16. |
- Mattsson, Niklas, 1979, et al.
(author)
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Predicting Reduction of Cerebrospinal Fluid beta-Amyloid 42 in Cognitively Healthy Controls
- 2015
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In: Jama Neurology. - : American Medical Association (AMA). - 2168-6149. ; 72:5, s. 554-560
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IMPORTANCE Alzheimer disease has a long preclinical stage characterized by beta-amyloid (A beta) accumulation without symptoms. Several trials focus on this stage and use biomarkers to include A beta-positive participants, but an even earlier prevention of A beta accumulation may be an effective treatment strategy. OBJECTIVE To determine whether people who appear to be A beta negative but are at high risk for A beta positivity within the near future can be identified. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Longitudinal biomarker cohort study involving 35 cognitively healthy individuals who underwent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling for up to 3 years during the study (October 24, 2005, to September 1, 2014). All participants had normal CSF A beta 42 levels at baseline. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Predictors of future A beta positivity (levels of CSF A beta 42 declining below a previously validated cutoff level of 192 ng/L) tested by random forest models. Tested predictors included levels of protein in the CSF, hippocampal volume, genetics, demographics, and cognitive scores. RESULTS The CSF A beta 42 levels declined in 11 participants, and the CSF became A beta positive. The baseline CSF A beta 42 level was a strong predictor of future positivity (accuracy, 79% [95% CI, 70%-87%]). Ten of 11 decliners had baseline CSF A beta 42 levels in the lower tertile of the reference range (<225 ng/L), and 22 of 24 nondecliners had baseline CSF A beta 42 levels in the upper 2 tertiles (similar to 225 ng/L). A high CSF P-tau level was associated with decline (accuracy, 68%; 95% CI, 55%-81%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Baseline CSF A beta 42 levels in the lower part of the reference range are strongly associated with future A beta positivity. This finding can be used in trials on very early prevention of Alzheimer disease to identify people at high risk for Ab accumulation as defined by low CSF A beta 42 levels.
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17. |
- Sacuiu, Simona, 1971, et al.
(author)
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Chronic Depressive Symptomatology in Mild Cognitive Impairment Is Associated with Frontal Atrophy Rate which Hastens Conversion to Alzheimer Dementia
- 2016
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In: American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. - : Elsevier BV. - 1064-7481. ; 24:2, s. 126-135
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Investigate the association of chronic depressive symptomatology (chrDS) with cortical atrophy rates and conversion to Alzheimer dementia (AD) over 3 years in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: In a multicenter, clinic-based study, MCI elderly participants were selected from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative repository, based on availability of both serial structural magnetic resonance imaging and chrDS endorsed on three depression-related items from the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (chrDS N = 32 or no depressive symptoms N = 62) throughout follow-up. Clinical and laboratory investigations were performed every 6 months during the first 2 years and yearly thereafter (median follow-up: 3 years; interquartile range: 1.5-4.0 years). Cortical atrophy rates in 16 predefined frontotemporoparietal regions affected in major depression and AD and the rate of incident AD at follow-up. Results: ChrDS in a single domain amnestic MCI sample were associated with accelerated cortical atrophy in the frontal lobe and anterior cingulate but not with atrophy rates in temporomedial or other AD-affected regions. During follow-up, 38 participants (42.7%) developed AD. Participants with chrDS had 60% shorter conversion time to AD than those without depressive symptoms. This association remained significant in survival models adjusted for temporomedial atrophy rates and showed the same trend in models adjusted for frontal cortical atrophy rate, which all increased the risk of AD. Conclusion: Our results suggest that chrDS associated with progressive atrophy of frontal regions may represent an additional risk factor for conversion to dementia in MCI as opposite to representing typical prodromal AD symptomatology.
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18. |
- Bateman, R J, et al.
(author)
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Plasma Biomarkers of AD Emerging as Essential Tools for Drug Development: An EU/US CTAD Task Force Report.
- 2019
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In: The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease. - : SERDI. - 2426-0266 .- 2274-5807. ; 6:3, s. 169-173
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is an urgent need to develop reliable and sensitive blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that can be used for screening and to increase the efficiency of clinical trials. The European Union-North American Clinical Trials in Alzheimer's Disease Task Force (EU/US CTAD Task Force) discussed the current status of blood-based AD biomarker development at its 2018 annual meeting in Barcelona, Spain. Recent improvements in technologies to assess plasma levels of amyloid beta indicate that a single sample of blood could provide an accurate estimate of brain amyloid positivity. Plasma neurofilament light protein appears to provide a good marker of neurodegeneration, although not specific for AD. Plasma tau shows some promising results but weak or no correlation with CSF tau levels, which may reflect rapid clearance of tau in the bloodstream. Blood samples analyzed using -omics and other approaches are also in development and may provide important insight into disease mechanisms as well as biomarker profiles for disease prediction. To advance these technologies, international multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential.
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19. |
- Budd Haeberlein, Samantha, et al.
(author)
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Two Randomized Phase 3 Studies of Aducanumab in Early Alzheimer’s Disease
- 2022
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In: Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. - : SERDI. - 2274-5807. ; 9:2, s. 197-210
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible, and fatal disease for which accumulation of amyloid beta is thought to play a key role in pathogenesis. Aducanumab is a human monoclonal antibody directed against aggregated soluble and insoluble forms of amyloid beta. Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of aducanumab in early Alzheimer’s disease. Design: EMERGE and ENGAGE were two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, global, phase 3 studies of aducanumab in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. Setting: These studies involved 348 sites in 20 countries. Participants: Participants included 1638 (EMERGE) and 1647 (ENGAGE) patients (aged 50–85 years, confirmed amyloid pathology) who met clinical criteria for mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease or mild Alzheimer's disease dementia, of which 1812 (55.2%) completed the study. Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive aducanumab low dose (3 or 6 mg/kg target dose), high dose (10 mg/kg target dose), or placebo via IV infusion once every 4 weeks over 76 weeks. Measurements: The primary outcome measure was change from baseline to week 78 on the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), an integrated scale that assesses both function and cognition. Other measures included safety assessments; secondary and tertiary clinical outcomes that assessed cognition, function, and behavior; and biomarker endpoints. Results: EMERGE and ENGAGE were halted based on futility analysis of data pooled from the first approximately 50% of enrolled patients; subsequent efficacy analyses included data from a larger data set collected up to futility declaration and followed prespecified statistical analyses. The primary endpoint was met in EMERGE (difference of -0.39 for high-dose aducanumab vs placebo [95% CI, -0.69 to -0.09; P=.012; 22% decrease]) but not in ENGAGE (difference of 0.03, [95% CI, -0.26 to 0.33; P=.833; 2% increase]). Results of biomarker substudies confirmed target engagement and dose-dependent reduction in markers of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology. The most common adverse event was amyloid-related imaging abnormalities-edema. Conclusions: Data from EMERGE demonstrated a statistically significant change across all four primary and secondary clinical endpoints. ENGAGE did not meet its primary or secondary endpoints. A dose-and time-dependent reduction in pathophysiological markers of Alzheimer’s disease was observed in both trials.
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20. |
- Cummings, J, et al.
(author)
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Anti-Tau Trials for Alzheimer's Disease: A Report from the EU/US/CTAD Task Force.
- 2019
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In: The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease. - : SERDI. - 2426-0266 .- 2274-5807. ; 6:3, s. 157-163
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Efforts to develop effective disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have mostly targeted the amyloid β (Aβ) protein; however, there has recently been increased interest in other targets including phosphorylated tau and other forms of tau. Aggregated tau appears to spread in a characteristic pattern throughout the brain and is thought to drive neurodegeneration. Both neuropathological and imaging studies indicate that tau first appears in the entorhinal cortex and then spreads to the neocortex. Anti-tau therapies currently in Phase 1 or 2 trials include passive and active immunotherapies designed to prevent aggregation, seeding, and spreading, as well as small molecules that modulate tau metabolism and function. EU/US/CTAD Task Force members support advancing the development of anti-tau therapies, which will require novel imaging agents and biomarkers, a deeper understanding of tau biology and the dynamic interaction of tau and Aβ protein, and development of multiple targets and candidate agents addressing the tauopathy of AD. Incorporating tau biomarkers in AD clinical trials will provide additional knowledge about the potential to treat AD by targeting tau.
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21. |
- Hampel, H., et al.
(author)
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The Amyloid-beta Pathway in Alzheimer's Disease
- 2021
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In: Molecular Psychiatry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 26, s. 5481-5503
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Breakthroughs in molecular medicine have positioned the amyloid-beta (A beta) pathway at the center of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. While the detailed molecular mechanisms of the pathway and the spatial-temporal dynamics leading to synaptic failure, neurodegeneration, and clinical onset are still under intense investigation, the established biochemical alterations of the A beta cycle remain the core biological hallmark of AD and are promising targets for the development of disease-modifying therapies. Here, we systematically review and update the vast state-of-the-art literature of A beta science with evidence from basic research studies to human genetic and multi-modal biomarker investigations, which supports a crucial role of A beta pathway dyshomeostasis in AD pathophysiological dynamics. We discuss the evidence highlighting a differentiated interaction of distinct A beta species with other AD-related biological mechanisms, such as tau-mediated, neuroimmune and inflammatory changes, as well as a neurochemical imbalance. Through the lens of the latest development of multimodal in vivo biomarkers of AD, this cross-disciplinary review examines the compelling hypothesis- and data-driven rationale for A beta-targeting therapeutic strategies in development for the early treatment of AD.
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22. |
- Insel, Philip S., et al.
(author)
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Accelerating rates of cognitive decline and imaging markers associated with β-amyloid pathology
- 2016
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In: Neurology. - 0028-3878. ; 86:20, s. 1887-1896
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To estimate points along the spectrum of β-amyloid pathology at which rates of change of several measures of neuronal injury and cognitive decline begin to accelerate. Methods: In 460 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), we estimated the points at which rates of florbetapir PET, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET, MRI, and cognitive and functional decline begin to accelerate with respect to baseline CSF Aβ 42. Points of initial acceleration in rates of decline were estimated using mixed-effects regression. Results: Rates of neuronal injury and cognitive and even functional decline accelerate substantially before the conventional threshold for amyloid positivity, with rates of florbetapir PET and FDG PET accelerating early. Temporal lobe atrophy rates also accelerate prior to the threshold, but not before the acceleration of cognitive and functional decline. Conclusions: A considerable proportion of patients with MCI would not meet inclusion criteria for a trial using the current threshold for amyloid positivity, even though on average, they are experiencing cognitive/functional decline associated with prethreshold levels of CSF Aβ 42. Future trials in early Alzheimer disease might consider revising the criteria regarding β-amyloid thresholds to include the range of amyloid associated with the first signs of accelerating rates of decline. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.
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23. |
- Kang, J. H., et al.
(author)
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The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 2 Biomarker Core: A review of progress and plans
- 2015
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In: Alzheimers & Dementia. - : Wiley. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 11:7, s. 772-791
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: We describe Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) Biomarker Core progress including: the Biobank; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid beta (A beta(1-42)), t-tau, and p-tau(181) analytical performance, definition of Alzheimer's disease (AD) profile for plaque, and tangle burden detection and increased risk for progression to AD; AD disease heterogeneity; progress in standardization; and new studies using ADNI biofluids. Methods: Review publications authored or coauthored by ADNI Biomarker core faculty and selected non-ADNI studies to deepen the understanding and interpretation ofCSFA beta(1-42), t-tau, and p-tau(181) data. Results: CSFAD biomarker measurements with the qualified AlzBio3 immunoassay detects neuropathologic AD hallmarks in preclinical and prodromal disease stages, based on CSF studies in nonADNI living subjects followed by the autopsy confirmation of AD. Collaboration across ADNI cores generated the temporal ordering model of AD biomarkers varying across individuals because of genetic/environmental factors that increase/decrease resilience to AD pathologies. Discussion: Further studies will refine this model and enable the use of biomarkers studied in ADNI clinically and in disease-modifying therapeutic trials. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association.
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24. |
- Lawlor, B., et al.
(author)
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Nilvadipine in mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: A randomised controlled trial
- 2018
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In: Plos Medicine. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1549-1676. ; 15:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background This study reports the findings of the first large-scale Phase III investigator-driven clinical trial to slow the rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease with a dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium channel blocker, nilvadipine. Nilvadipine, licensed to treat hypertension, reduces amyloid production, increases regional cerebral blood flow, and has demonstrated antiinflammatory and anti-tau activity in preclinical studies, properties that could have diseasemodifying effects for Alzheimer disease. We aimed to determine if nilvadipine was effective in slowing cognitive decline in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease. NILVAD was an 18-month, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial that randomised participants between 15 May 2013 and 13 April 2015. The study was conducted at 23 academic centres in nine European countries. Of 577 participants screened, 511 were eligible and were randomised (258 to placebo, 253 to nilvadipine). Participants took a trial treatment capsule once a day after breakfast for 78 weeks. Participants were aged > 50 years, meeting National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke/Alzheimer's disease Criteria (NINCDS-ADRDA) for diagnosis of probable Alzheimer disease, with a Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) score of >= 12 and < 27. Participants were randomly assigned to 8 mg sustained-release nilvadipine or matched placebo. The a priori defined primary outcome was progression on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale-12 (ADAS-Cog 12) in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population (n = 498), with the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of boxes (CDR-sb) as a gated co-primary outcome, eligible to be promoted to primary end point conditional on a significant effect on the ADAS-Cog 12. The analysis set had a mean age of 73 years and was 62% female. Baseline demographic and Alzheimer disease +/- specific characteristics were similar between treatment groups, with reported mean of 1.7 years since diagnosis and mean SMMSE of 20.4. The prespecified primary analyses failed to show any treatment benefit for nilvadipine on the co-primary outcome (p = 0.465). Decline from baseline in ADASCog 12 on placebo was 0.79 (95% CI, -0.07 +/- 1.64) at 13 weeks, 6.41 (5.33 +/- 7.49) at 52 weeks, and 9.63 (8.33 +/- 10.93) at 78 weeks and on nilvadipine was 0.88 (0.02 +/- 1.74) at 13 weeks, 5.75 (4.66 +/- 6.85) at 52 weeks, and 9.41 (8.09 +/- 10.73) at 78 weeks. Exploratory analyses of the planned secondary outcomes showed no substantial effects, including on the CDR-sb or the Disability Assessment for Dementia. Nilvadipine appeared to be safe and well tolerated. Mortality was similar between groups (3 on nilvadipine, 4 on placebo); higher counts of adverse events (AEs) on nilvadipine (1,129 versus 1,030), and serious adverse events (SAEs; 146 versus 101), were observed. There were 14 withdrawals because of AEs. Major limitations of this study were that subjects had established dementia and the likelihood that non-Alzheimer subjects were included because of the lack of biomarker confirmation of the presence of brain amyloid. The results do not suggest benefit of nilvadipine as a treatment in a population spanning mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.
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25. |
- Mallinckrodt, C., et al.
(author)
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Investigating Partially Discordant Results in Phase 3 Studies of Aducanumab
- 2023
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In: Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. - : SERDI. - 2274-5807. ; 10, s. 171-177
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Efficacy and safety results from the EMERGE (NCT02484547) and ENGAGE (NCT02477800) phase 3 studies of aducanumab in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been published. In EMERGE, but not in ENGAGE, high-dose aducanumab demonstrated significant treatment effects across primary and secondary endpoints. Low-dose aducanumab results were consistent across studies with non-significant differences versus placebo that were intermediate to the highdose arm in EMERGE. The present investigation examined data from EMERGE and ENGAGE through post-hoc analyses to determine factors that contributed to discordant results between the high-dose arms of the two studies. Design: EMERGE and ENGAGE were 2 phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group studies. Setting: EMERGE and ENGAGE were 2 global multicenter studies involving 348 sites in 20 countries. Participants: Participants in EMERGE and ENGAGE were aged 50 to 85 years and had mild cognitive impairment or mild AD dementia with confirmed amyloid pathology. The randomized and dosed population (all randomized patients who received at least one dose of study treatment) included 1638 patients in EMERGE and 1647 in ENGAGE. Intervention: In EMERGE and ENGAGE, participants were randomized to receive low- or high-dose aducanumab or placebo (1:1:1) once every 4 weeks. Measurements: In this paper, 4 areas were investigated through post-hoc analyses to understand the discordance in the high-dose arms of the EMERGE and ENGAGE studies: baseline characteristics, amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, non-normality of the data, and dosing/exposure to aducanumab. Results: Post-hoc analyses showed that outcomes in the ENGAGE high-dose group were affected by an imbalance in a small number of patients with extremely rapid progression and by lower exposure to the target dose of 10 mg/kg. These factors were confounded and present in early enrolled patients but were not present in later-enrolled patients who were randomized to the target dosing regimen of 10 mg/kg after titration. Neither baseline characteristics nor amyloid-related imaging abnormalities contributed to the difference in results between the high-dose arms. Conclusions: Results were consistent across studies in later enrolled patients in which the incidence of rapidly progressing patients was balanced across treatment arms.
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