Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 3 (ADNI3) Protocol (ADNI3)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02854033 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : August 3, 2016
Last Update Posted : January 31, 2023
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Condition or disease |
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Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Alzheimer's Disease (AD) |
The overall goal of ADNI3 is to determine the relationships among the clinical, cognitive, imaging, genetic and biochemical biomarker characteristics of the entire spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as the pathology evolves from normal aging through very mild symptoms, to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), to dementia. ADNI3 continues the previously funded AD Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI1, ADNI-GO, and ADNI-2), and remains a public/private collaboration between academia and industry to study biomarkers of AD. ADNI will continue to inform the neuroscience of AD, identify diagnostic and prognostic markers, identify outcome measures that can be used in clinical trials, and help develop the most effective clinical trial scenarios.
This is multi-center, a non-randomized, natural history, non-treatment study. 1,070-2,000 total participants will be enrolled across three cohorts: cognitively normal* (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's Disease (AD) dementia. Participants between the ages of 55-90 (inclusive) will be enrolled at 59 sites in the United States and Canada. Approximately, 700 - 800 will be rollover participants from previous ADNI studies, and 370 - 1200 will be newly enrolled. Clinical/cognitive, imaging, biomarker, and genetic characteristics will be assessed across the three cohorts.
Participants will undergo longitudinal clinical and cognitive assessments, computerized cognitive batteries, biomarker and genetic tests, PET (FDG, amyloid and tau) and MRI scans and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection for up to 5 years.
*currently recruiting non-Caucasian participants only for the cognitively normal cohort.
Study Type : | Observational |
Estimated Enrollment : | 2000 participants |
Observational Model: | Cohort |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 3 (ADNI3) Protocol |
Study Start Date : | October 2016 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | July 2023 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | July 2023 |

Group/Cohort |
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Cognitively Normal (CN)
135-500 newly enrolled participants with no apparent memory problems, and 295-300 cognitively normal participants followed from the ADNI2 study. Currently recruiting non-Caucasian participants only for the normal cognition group. |
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
150 - 515 newly enrolled participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 275-320 MCI participants followed from the ADNI2 study.
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Mild Alzheimer's Disease (AD) dementia
85 - 185 newly enrolled participants with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, and 130 - 150 mild AD participants followed from the ADNI2 study.
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- Rate of change in cognition as measured by the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog13) [ Time Frame: 5 years ]The ADAS-Cog is an in-person examiner-administered, structured scale that evaluates memory (word recall, word recognition), reasoning (following commands), language (naming, comprehension), orientation, ideational praxis (placing letter in envelope) and constructional praxis (copying geometric designs). Ratings of spoken language, language comprehension, word finding difficulty, and ability to remember test instructions are also obtained.
- Rate of change in cognition as measured by the Logical Memory Test I and II [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Rate of change in cognition as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examinations (MMSE) [ Time Frame: 5 years ]The MMSE scale evaluates orientation, memory, attention, concentration, naming, repetition, comprehension, and ability to create a sentence and to copy two overlapping pentagons.
- Rate of change in cognition as measured by the Cogstate Brief Battery (CBB) [ Time Frame: 5 years ]The Cogstate Brief battery (CBB) is a brief (10-15 minute) computerized cognitive battery developed by Cogstate (Cogstate Ltd. New Haven, CT, USA) that measures attention, speed of information processing, working memory and learning.
- Rate of change in cognition as measured by the American National Adult Reading Test (ANART) [ Time Frame: 5 years ]The ANART estimates premorbid verbal intelligence (VIQ) in patients with dementia.
- Rate of change in cognition as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) [ Time Frame: 5 years ]The Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA) is a cognitive assessment designed to detect participants at the MCI stage of cognitive dysfunction.
- Rate of change in cognition as measured by the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test [ Time Frame: 5 years ]The AVLT is a list-learning task, which assesses multiple cognitive parameters associated with learning and memory.
- Rate of change in cognition as measured by the Trail Making Test: A and B [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Change in tau deposition as measured by 18F-AV-1451 [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Change in amyloid deposition as measured by Florbetapir [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Change in amyloid deposition as measured by Florbetaben [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Rate of conversion to MCI or dementia due to AD [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Rates of change of glucose metabolism (FDG-PET) [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Change in Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) Tau Biomarkers [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
- Change in brain structure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 55 Years to 90 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria (all CN participants):
- Participant with or without subjective memory complaints, verified by a study partner, beyond what one would expect for age
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Normal memory function documented by scoring above education adjusted cutoffs on the Logical Memory II subscale (Delayed Paragraph Recall, Paragraph A only) from the Wechsler Memory Scale -Revised (the maximum score is 25):
- 9 for 16 or more years of education
- 5 for 8-15 years of education
- 3 for 0-7 years of education
- Mini-Mental State Exam score between 24 and 30 inclusive (Exceptions may be made for participants with less than 8 years of education at the discretion of the Project Director)
- Clinical Dementia Rating = 0. Memory Box score must be 0
- Cognitively normal, based on an absence of significant impairment in cognitive functions or activities of daily living
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Stability of Permitted Medications for at least 4 weeks:
- Stable doses of antidepressants lacking significant anticholinergic side effects (if they are currently adequately treated for depressive symptoms and do not have a history of major depression within the past 1 years)
- Estrogen replacement therapy is permissible
- Gingko biloba is permissible, but discouraged
- Washout from psychoactive medication (e.g., excluded antidepressants, neuroleptics, chronic anxiolytics or sedative hypnotics, etc.) for at least 4 weeks prior to screening.
Inclusion Criteria (all MCI participants):
- Participant must express a subjective memory concern as reported by participant, or recalled by study partner or clinician.
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Abnormal memory function documented by scoring below education adjusted cutoffs on the Logical Memory II subscale (Delayed Paragraph Recall, Paragraph A only) from the Wechsler Memory Scale -Revised (the maximum score is 25):
a. < 11 for 16 or more years of education b. ≤ 9 for 8-15 years of education c. ≤ 6 for 0-7 years of education
- Mini-Mental State Exam score between 24 and 30 inclusive (Exceptions may be made for participants with less than 8 years of education at the discretion of the Project Director)
- Clinical Dementia Rating = 0.5. Memory Box score must be at least 0.5
- General cognition and functional performance sufficiently preserved such that a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease cannot be made by the site physician at the time of the Screening Visit
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Stability of Permitted Medications for at least 4 weeks:
- Stable doses of antidepressants lacking significant anticholinergic side effects (if they are currently adequately treated for depressive symptoms and do not have a history of major depression within the past 1 years)
- Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are allowable if stable for 12 weeks prior to Screening Visit
- Estrogen replacement therapy is permissible
- Gingko biloba is permissible, but discouraged
- Washout from psychoactive medication (e.g., excluded antidepressants, neuroleptics, chronic anxiolytics or sedative hypnotics, etc.) for at least 4 weeks prior to screening.
Inclusion Criteria (all AD participants):
- Participant must express a subjective memory concern as reported by participant, or recalled by study partner or clinician.n.
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Abnormal memory function documented by scoring below education adjusted cutoffs on the Logical Memory II subscale (Delayed Paragraph Recall, Paragraph A only) from the Wechsler Memory Scale -Revised (the maximum score is 25):
- ≤ 8 for 16 or more years of education
- ≤ 4 for 8-15 years of education
- ≤ 2 for 0-7 years of education
- Mini-Mental State Exam score between 20 and 26 inclusive (Exceptions may be made for participants with less than 8 years of education at the discretion of the Project Director)
- Clinical Dementia Rating = 0.5 or 1.0
- NINCDS (National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke) -ADRDA (Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association) criteria for probable AD
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Stability of Permitted Medications for at least 4 weeks:
- Stable doses of antidepressants lacking significant anticholinergic side effects (if they are currently adequately treated for depressive symptoms and do not have a history of major depression within the past 1 years)
- Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are allowable if stable for 12 weeks prior to Screening Visit
- Estrogen replacement therapy is permissible
- Gingko biloba is permissible, but discouraged
- Washout from psychoactive medication (e.g., excluded antidepressants, neuroleptics, chronic anxiolytics or sedative hypnotics, etc.) for at least 4 weeks prior to screening.
Inclusion Criteria Specific to Newly Enrolled Participants
- Geriatric Depression Scale score less than 6.
- Age between 55-90 years (inclusive).
- Study partner who has frequent contact with the participant (i.e., minimum average of 10 hours per week) and is available to accompany the participant to all clinic visits for the duration of the protocol.
- Visual and auditory acuity adequate for neuropsychological testing.
- Good general health with no diseases expected to interfere with the study.
- Participant is not pregnant, lactating, or of childbearing potential (i.e. women must be two years post-menopausal or surgically sterile).
- Willing and able to participate in a longitudinal imaging study.
- Modified Hachinski Ischemic Score less than or equal to 4.
- Completed six grades of education or has a good work history (sufficient to exclude mental retardation).
- Must speak English or Spanish fluently.
- Willing to undergo repeated MRIs (3Tesla) and at least two PET scans
- Agrees to collection of blood for genomic analysis (including GWAS (genome-wide association study) sequencing and other analysis), APOE (Apolipoprotein E) testing and biospecimen banking.
- Agrees to collection of blood for biomarker testing.
- Agrees to at least one lumbar puncture for the collection of CSF.
- Agrees to share genomic data and biomarker samples. Inclusion Criteria Specific to Rollover Participants"
The following additional inclusion criteria apply to all diagnostic categories for rollover participants only:
- Must have been enrolled and followed in ADNI-1, ADNI-GO, or ADNI-2 for at least one year.
- Willing and able to continue to participate in an ongoing longitudinal study. A reduced battery of tests is allowable if the participant is not able/willing to complete the full battery.
Exclusion Criteria (all CN participants):
- Any significant neurologic disease, such as Parkinson's disease, multi-infarct dementia, Huntington's disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, brain tumor, progressive supranuclear palsy, seizure disorder, subdural hematoma, multiple sclerosis, or history of significant head trauma followed by persistent neurologic deficits or known structural brain abnormalities
Exclusion Criteria (all MCI participants):
1. Any significant neurologic disease other than suspected incipient Alzheimer's disease, such as Parkinson's disease, multi-infarct dementia, Huntington's disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, brain tumor, progressive supranuclear palsy, seizure disorder, subdural hematoma, multiple sclerosis, or history of significant head trauma followed by persistent neurologic deficits or known structural brain abnormalities.
Exclusion Criteria (all AD participants):
1. Any significant neurologic disease other than Alzheimer's disease, such as Parkinson's disease, multi-infarct dementia, Huntington's disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, brain tumor, progressive supranuclear palsy, seizure disorder, subdural hematoma, multiple sclerosis, or history of significant head trauma followed by persistent neurologic deficits or known structural brain abnormalities.
Exclusion Criteria (all participants):
The following additional exclusion criteria apply to all diagnostic categories:
- Screening/Baseline MRI brain scan with evidence of infection, infarction, or other focal lesions or multiple lacunes or lacunes in a critical memory structure
- Subjects that have any contraindications for MRI studies, including the presence of cardiac pacemakers, or metal fragments or foreign objects in the eyes, skin or body.
- Major depression, bipolar disorder as described in DSM-IV within the past 1 year. Psychotic features, agitation or behavioral problems within the last 3 months that could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol.
- Currently treated with medication for obsessive-compulsive disorder or attention deficit disorder.
- History of schizophrenia (DSM IV criteria).
- History of alcohol or substance abuse or dependence within the past 2 years (DSM IV criteria).
- Any significant systemic illness or unstable medical condition, which could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol.
- Clinically significant abnormalities in B12 or thyroid function tests (TFTs) that might interfere with the study. A low B12 is exclusionary, unless follow-up labs (homocysteine (HC) and methylmalonic acid (MMA)) indicate that it is not physiologically significant.
- Residence in a skilled nursing facility.
- Current use of specific psychoactive medications (e.g., certain antidepressants, neuroleptics, chronic anxiolytics or sedative hypnotics). Current use of warfarin or other anticoagulants such as dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban (exclusionary for lumbar puncture).
- Current use of any other exclusionary medications
- Investigational agents are prohibited one month prior to entry and for the duration of the trial.
- Participation in clinical studies involving neuropsychological measures being collected more than one time per year.
Exclusion Criteria Specific to AV-1451 PET:
The following criteria are exclusionary only for the AV-1451 scanning portion of the study:
- History of risk factors for torsades de pointes (a cardiac dysrhythmia associated with sudden death) or taking medications known to prolong the QT interval. A list of restricted medications will be provided.
- Have an ECG obtained prior to the AV-1451 PET scan that in the opinion of the investigator is clinically significant with regard to the subject's participation in the study. Bazett's corrected QT (QTcB) interval must be evaluated and must not exceed 458 msec in males, or 474 msec in females.

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): NCT02854033
Contact: ADNI Central Phone Number | 888-2-ADNI-95 (888-223-6495) | adni3-participate@usc.edu |

Study Director: | Michael W. Weiner, MD | University of California, San Francisco | |
Principal Investigator: | Paul Aisen, MD | USC Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) | |
Principal Investigator: | Ronald Peterson, MD, PHD | Mayo Clinic |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Paul Aisen, Director, Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02854033 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
ATRI-001 U01AG024904 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) |
First Posted: | August 3, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 31, 2023 |
Last Verified: | January 2023 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
amyloid plaques neuroimaging biomarkers cognition disorder |
early detection pre-dementia dementia Alzheimer's disease tau |
Alzheimer Disease Cognitive Dysfunction Dementia Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases |
Tauopathies Neurodegenerative Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Mental Disorders Cognition Disorders |