Using the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative to improve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Introduction The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) has accumulated 15 years of clinical, neuroimaging, cognitive, biofluid biomarker and genetic data, and biofluid samples available to researchers, resulting in more than 3500 publications. This review covers studies from 2018 to 2020. Methods We identified 1442 publications using ADNI data by conventional search methods and selected impactful studies for inclusion. Results Disease progression studies supported pivotal roles for regional amyloid beta (A beta) and tau deposition, and identified underlying genetic contributions to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Vascular disease, immune response, inflammation, resilience, and sex modulated disease course. Biologically coherent subgroups were identified at all clinical stages. Practical algorithms and methodological changes improved determination of A beta status. Plasma A beta, phosphorylated tau181, and neurofilament light were promising noninvasive biomarkers. Prognostic and diagnostic models were externally validated in ADNI but studies are limited by lack of ethnocultural cohort diversity. Discussion ADNI has had a profound impact in improving clinical trials for AD.