European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia (EPAD) Longitudinal Cohort Study (LCS) (EPAD-LCS)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02804789 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(No further funding available, remaining visits halted due to threat of Covid 19)
First Posted : June 17, 2016
Last Update Posted : March 31, 2020
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Brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease may precede symptoms of Alzheimer's Dementia by over 20 years. The Investigators hope to be able to identify Alzheimer's disease at its very earliest stages when in theory treatments are most likely to be successful in preventing further spread of the disease in the brain and causing dementia. The aim of EPAD programme is to develop new treatments more quickly to prevent Alzheimer's dementia. A major component of the EPAD programme is the EPAD Longitudinal Cohort Study which can provide subjects for the EPAD trial as well as data to improve understanding of disease before dementia develops.
The Investigators will approach a broad range of people over the age of 50 who have previously taken part in various research studies and consented to being recontacted for further research. Participants will be asked questions to assess their memory and other cognitive function. The participants will also undertake a brain scan, provide a sample of spinal fluid, blood, urine and saliva to look at markers in these bodily fluids that may change in Alzheimer's disease. The Investigators will then follow these participants until December 2019 repeating these tests annually. This will be called the EPAD Longitudinal Cohort Study (EPAD LCS). The main reasons for EPAD developing a cohort are to help the Investigators understand more about what happens to people before dementia develops, and to help recruit people more quickly into the EPAD trials of new medications or other interventions expected to prevent dementia.
People in the EPAD LCS may be invited to take part in the EPAD Proof of Concept prevention studies to see if interventions can modify the probability of developing dementia or cognitive problems (this will be subject to separate ethics approval and consent). Together EPAD LCS and EPAD PoC make up the full EPAD Programme.
Condition or disease |
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Alzheimer's Dementia |

Study Type : | Observational [Patient Registry] |
Actual Enrollment : | 2095 participants |
Observational Model: | Cohort |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Target Follow-Up Duration: | 44 Months |
Official Title: | European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia (EPAD) Longitudinal Cohort Study (LCS) |
Study Start Date : | May 2016 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | March 13, 2020 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | March 13, 2020 |

- Change in RBANS Composite score over time, units on a scale. [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, 6 months, year 1, year 2, year 3. ]Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Composite score combining: List Learning & Story Memory; Figure Recall; Figure Copy & Line Orientation; Picture Naming; Semantic Fluency, Digit Span, Coding.
- Change in other Secondary Cognitive Tests score: Working Memory, over time, units on a scale. [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, 6 months, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Dot Counting test
- Change in other Secondary Cognitive Tests score: Choice Reaction Time and Set Shifting, over time, units on a scale. [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, 6 months, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Flanker test
- Change in other Secondary Cognitive Tests score: Paired Associate Learning, over time, units on a scale. [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, 6 months, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Favourites
- Change in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers over time [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Aβ, t-tau and p-tau levels in pg/ml
- Changes in neuro-imaging assessment of hippocampal and whole brain volume, over time [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Hippocampal and whole brain volume, cm3
- Change in exploratory Cognitive Tests score: Allocentric space, over time, units on a scale. [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, 6 months, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Four Mountains Test
- Change in exploratory Cognitive Tests score: Egocentric space, over time, units on a scale. [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, 6 months, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Supermarket Trolley Virtual Reality Test
- Change in other secondary clinical outcome scale: Everyday functioning, total over time, units on a scale [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, 6 months, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Everyday functioning: Amsterdam Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire.
- Changes in neuro-imaging assessments over time, Multi-regional Structural and Functional MRI & Functional regional and network measures, units on a scale [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Cortical thickness, deep grey matter (GM) volumes, Fractional anisotropy (FA) of temporal lobe, diffusion kurtosis (multi b-value DTI), network alterations, Global & parietal Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF), Changes within the default-mode network (DMN) & relation with hippocampal activity (rsfMRI), Bolus arrival time (multi-delay ASL), Network analysis (rsfMRI)
- Changes in Lifestyle factors over time: Smoking [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Smoking: never/past/current
- Changes in Lifestyle factors over time: Alcohol Consumption [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Alcohol: units/week
- Changes in Lifestyle factors over time: drug abuse/misuse [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Drug abuse/misuse: never/past/current
- Changes in Lifestyle factors over time: diet HATICE (Healthy Aging through Internet Counselling in the Elderly), units on a scale [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Diet questionnaire: HATICE (Healthy Aging through Internet Counselling in the Elderly), physical activity.
- Changes in Lifestyle factors over time: physical activity frequency [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Physical activity: daily, 2-3 times/week, 2-3 times/month, a few times a year, not at all
- Changes in Lifestyle factors over time: Life events over time [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Life events: SNAC (Swedish National study on Ageing and Care).
- Changes in Lifestyle factors over time: Self-rated health and fitness [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Self-rated health and fitness: Very good/good/satisfactory/relatively poor/poor
- Change in Mini-Mental Satus Exam (MMSE) over time [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Measure of clinical state
- Change in Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) over time [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Assessment of six domains, (memory, orientation, judgement and problem solving, community affairs, home and hobbies and personal care), from which the global CDR score, CDR sum of notes and a CDR rating for each domain are calculated.
- Change in other clinical outcome scale: Depression, total over time, units on a scale [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Depression: Geriatric Depression Scale
- Change in other clinical outcome scale: Anxiety, total over time, units on a scale [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Anxiety: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
- Change in other clinical outcome scale: Sleep, total over time, units on a scale [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
- Other neuro-imaging measure: Vascular Burden, over time, units on a scale [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Vascular Burden: Counts of White Matter Lesions, infarcts, laciness, micro bleeds and superficial siderosis.
- Other clinical outcome: Dementia Diagnosed by a Participant's Physician [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Type of Dementia and Date of Diagnosis
- Genetic Assessment of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline ]APOE genotype determined by allele combination of e2, e3 and e4
- Sociodemographic Factors (subject to local regulations [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline ]Date of Birth, Age, Ethnicity, Education, Marital Status, Handedness
- Other clinical measure: Family History of AD [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline ]Family history of AD in number of family members of first degree with history compatible with AD
- Other clinical measure: Medical History [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Medical History: Yes/No for: Stroke, Diabetes (type 1 or 2), Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, Myocardial Infarction, Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma, Depression, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Any Cancer, General Anaesthesia after the age of 50 years, Head Injury assessed with the Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire (BISQ), Mild Cognitive Impairment, Other Conditions (Listed as free text)
- Other clinical measure: Current Medication [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Drug, treatment duration (<1year / 1-5years / >5years)
- Other clinical measure: Body Height [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline ]Body Height: without shoes, measured to the nearest cm
- Other clinical measure: Body Weight [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Body Weight: measured to the nearest 0.1kg
- Other clinical measure: Hip-waist Circumference [ Time Frame: Measured at Baseline, year 1, year 2, year 3 ]Hip-waist Circumference: measured to nearest 0.1cm
Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA
- Urine
- Saliva
- CSF
- Blood (Serum, Plasma, Whole Blood, RNA, DNA)

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 50 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- At least 50 Years of Age
- Characterisation of cognitive, biomarker and risk factors (genetic, environmental) status of research participants based on data collected at the EPAD screening/baseline visit, so that decisions on selection/deselection can be made with reference to the dual needs of having sufficient heterogeneity across the entire probability-spectrum population for disease-modelling work, and suitable research participants for the EPAD PoC trial (Balancing Committee decision)
- Able to read and write with a minimum of 7 years of formal education.
- Willing in principle to participate in the EPAD Proof of Concept Trials (with additional consent).
- Have a study partner or can identify someone willing to be a study partner. The primary role of the study partner will be as informant. They will also receive oral and written information about the EPAD LCS, and will sign an Informed Consent Form (ICF).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals who fulfill diagnostic criteria for any type of dementia.
- Clinical Dementia Rating >=1
- Known carriers of a Presenilin (PSEN) 1, PSEN 2 or Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) mutation associated with Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's dementia or any other neurodegenerative disease.
- Presence of any neurological, psychiatric or medical conditions associated with a long-term risk of significant cognitive impairment or dementia including but not limited to pre- manifest Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Down syndrome, active alcohol/drug abuse; or major psychiatric disorders including current major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective or bipolar disorder.
- Cancer or history of cancer in the last 5 years (excluding cutaneous basal or squamous cell cancer resolved by excision).
- Any current medical conditions that are clinically significant and might make participation in an investigational trial unsafe, e.g., uncontrolled or unstable disease of any major organ system; history within the last 6 months of any acute illness of a major organ system requiring emergency care or hospitalization, including revascularization procedures; severe renal or hepatic failure; unstable or poorly controlled DM, hypertension, or heart failure; malignant neoplasms within the last 3 years (expect for basal or squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the skin, or localized prostate cancer in male participants); any clinically relevant abnormalities in blood parameters included in local TDC routine assessments; severe loss of vision, hearing or communicative ability; or any conditions preventing co-operation or completion of the required assessments in the trial, as judged by the investigator.
- Contraindications for MRI/Positron emission tomography (PET) Scan.
- Contraindications for Lumbar Puncture.
- Any evidence of intracranial pathology which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may affect cognition including but not limited to brain tumours (benign or malignant), aneurysm or arteriovenous malformations, territorial stroke (excluding smaller watershed strokes), recent haemorrhage (parenchymal or subdural), or obstructive hydrocephalus. Research participants with a MRI scan demonstrating markers of small vessel disease (e.g. white matter changes or lacunar infarcts) judged to be clinically insignificant, or microbleeds are allowed.
- Participation in a clinical trial of an Investigational Product (CTIMP) in the last 30 days (continued participation in the parent cohort is expected). Participation in a non-CTIMP is not an exclusion criterion.
Diminished decision-making capacity/ not capable of consenting at Visit 1 or Visit 2. If at a subsequent annual EPAD LCS visit health professionals suspect diminished consent capacity according to local TDC routine procedures, a formal assessment of the research participant's capacity to consent will be conducted. The participant will be offered the opportunity to continue in the EPAD LCS under suitable local regulations regarding capacitous participants who have consented to enter a longitudinal study who subsequently loose capacity. Capacity will be assessed at each study visit using the correct legal framework.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02804789

Principal Investigator: | Craig Ritchie | University of Edinburgh |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | University of Edinburgh |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02804789 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
EPAD-UoE-001 |
First Posted: | June 17, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 31, 2020 |
Last Verified: | March 2020 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | EPAD is an Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) project with open access to data. |
Time Frame: | Post December 2019 |
Access Criteria: | To be determined by the EPAD Research Access Committee |
Prevention |
Dementia Alzheimer Disease Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases |
Neurocognitive Disorders Mental Disorders Tauopathies Neurodegenerative Diseases |