Aiginition Longitudinal Biomarker Investigation Of Neurodegeneration (ALBION): study design, cohort description, and preliminary data

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Aiginition Longitudinal Biomarker Investigation Of Neurodegeneration (ALBION) is a longitudinal ongoing study initiated in 2018 that takes place in the Cognitive Disorders Clinic of Aiginition Hospital of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Its aim is to address several research questions concerning the preclinical and prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease and explore potential markers for early detection, prediction, and primary prevention of dementia.

Methods: We here present the design and the preliminary baseline characteristics of ALBION. The sample of our study consists of people aged over 50 who are concerned about their memory but are cognitively normal (CN) or have mild cognitive deficits. Each participant undergoes an extensive assessment including several demographic, medical, social, environmental, clinical, nutritional, neuropsychological determinants and lifestyle activities. Furthermore, we are collecting data from portable devices, neuroimaging techniques and biological samples (blood, stools, CSF). All participants are assessed annually for a period of 10 years.

Results: In total, 47 participants have completed the initial evaluation up to date and are divided in two groups, CN individuals (N = 26) and MCI patients (N = 21), based on their cognitive status. The participants are, on average, 64 years old, 46.3% of the sample is male with an average of 12.73 years of education. MCI patients report more comorbidities and have a lower score in the MMSE test. Regarding APOE status, 2 participants are ε4 homozygotes and 10 ε4 heterozygotes. CSF analyses (Aβ42, Τ-tau, P-tau) revealed no differences between the two groups.

Conclusion: The ALBION study offers an opportunity to explore preclinical dementia and identify new and tailored markers, particularly relating to lifestyle. Further investigation of these populations may provide a wider profile of the changes taking place in the preclinical phase of dementia, leading to potentially effective therapeutic and preventive strategies.

KEYWORDS:

• ALBION study
• preclinical AD
• biomarkers

Acknowledgments

None reported.

Contribution statement

F.Kalligerou: design and concept of analyses, statistical analysis and interpretation of data, substantial contribution to the acquisition of data, preparation of the manuscript

E.Ntanasi: substantial contributions to the acquisition of data, critical review of the manuscript

P. Voskou: substantial contribution to the acquisition of data

G. Velonakis: substantial contribution to the acquisition of data

E. Karavasillis: preparation of manuscript

E. Mamalaki: substantial contributions to the acquisition of data

A. Kirozis: preparation of the manuscript

E. Sigala: substantial contributions to the acquisition of data

N.T. Economou: substantial contribution to the acquisition of data

K. Patas: substantial contributions to the acquisition of data

M. Yanakoulia: critical review of the manuscript

N. Scarmeas: design and concept of analyses, critical review of the manuscript, final approval of the manuscript, supervision of the ALBION study.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

Authors on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have received an honorarium from Postgraduate Medicine for their review work but have no other relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.