What is the Alzheimer’s Disease and Neuroimaging Initiative 4 (ADNI4) study?

The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is a research study that is helping us understand Alzheimer’s disease. Our main goals are:

1. to improve how doctors diagnose patients with Alzheimer's disease
2. to provide data to researchers around the world so that together we can find and improve treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

The ADNI study began in 2004 and is a longitudinal research project, which means we study people over many years. We do this to track changes in a person’s memory and thinking as they age. We also study the physical changes that happen to a person’s brain over time. ADNI is an observational study, so no medications or treatments are given as part of the study.

We have many different tests to study changes in memory and thinking. First, our participants answer questions about themselves and their everyday lives. We also use memory tests to learn what problems they may be having with thinking and memory. Some of these tests are online, and others are done with study staff at a clinic near you.

Some of our participants will also be asked to provide a blood sample. The sample will be tested for the presence of different biological compounds. This will be used to study new ways of finding signs of future cognitive decline. We also ask some participants to come to our clinical sites for more in-depth tests. In the clinic, we use MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or PET (positron emission tomography) scans to take pictures of your brain.

When you join ADNI, you help make a big impact on Alzheimer's research. The data we collect helps us better understand aging, memory changes, and Alzheimer's disease. We share data with the scientific community. This leads to important discoveries about brain aging in older adults.

By studying brain aging in older adults and sharing the knowledge we gain, we can move towards earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and an end to Alzheimer's disease and dementia.