North American ADNI (NA-ADNI) is the founding member of WW-ADNI. NA-ADNI, also known as ADNI or ADNI-1, launched in October 2004 as a five-year study at about 50 research sites in the United States and Canada. Since its launch, ADNI has been extended twice into related studies called ADNI Grand Opportunities (ADNI-GO) and ADNI-2.

NA-ADNI initially enrolled 200 older adults with mild Alzheimer's disease, 400 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 200 with no memory problems. ADNI and its extensions aim to:

  • Evaluate whether brain imaging, biomarkers in blood and spinal fluid, and other tests can detect brain changes associated with normal aging, memory problems and Alzheimer's disease in living individuals
  • Shed light on physical and cognitive changes that occur as people transition from normal aging to the earliest stages of memory loss, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease
  • Enable the earliest possible diagnosis, potentially even before symptoms appear
  • Speed development of better drugs by providing tools to monitor change and assess treatment effectiveness
  • Identify prevention strategies

To achieve these goals, ADNI-1 and its extensions are investigating:

  • Brain imaging using various technologies
  • Protein levels and other potential biological markers (biomarkers) in blood, spinal fluid and urine
  • Genetic profiles
  • Additional medical tests
  • Neuropsychological tests

All ADNI images, data and test samples are stored anonymously in a central repository. ADNI makes electronically stored images and other test results available to all qualified researchers as soon as data are available. Investigators may apply for access through the ADNI website, hosted at the University of California at Los Angeles. Qualified scientists also may request access to ADNI cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples.

NA-ADNI was originally funded for $60 million. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) and National Institute of Bioimaging and Bioengineering contributed $40 million. An additional $20 million came from the pharmaceutical industry and several foundations, including the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). The Alzheimer's Association® donated several million dollars to ADNI through FNIH.

In 2009, ADNI was extended for two years with funding from a Grand Opportunities (GO) Grant awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the stimulus bill). ADNI-GO focuses on understanding the very earliest stages of memory loss by enrolling individuals ages 55 to 90 in the earliest stages of mild cognitive impairment (eMCI). ADNI-GO continues to follow ADNI-1 participants from among the cognitively healthy group and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

In 2010, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced five further years of ADNI funding under ADNI-2, adding even greater statistical power to ADNI-1 and ADNI-GO. In ADNI-2, researchers continue their focus on understanding the earliest stages of MCI (eMCI). The study aims to recruit 550 new volunteers—150 with no memory problems, 100 with eMCI, 150 with MCI and 150 with mild Alzheimer's disease. ADNI-2 also will continue long-term follow-up of some volunteers previously enrolled in ADNI-1 or ADNI-GO. In addition to other procedures and assessments, all ADNI-2 study participants will undergo brain beta-amyloid imaging.

ADNI-2 is funded by the NIA through a $40-million commitment providing $8 million per year for five years. ADNI-2 also has additional support from the pharmaceutical industry, foundations and nongovernmental partners. The Alzheimer's Association is proud to extend its commitment to ADNI and WW-ADNI by contributing to ADNI-2.

Additional ADNI resources:

  • For more information about volunteering for ADNI-GO or ADNI-2, please visit our TrialMatch website
  • For more detail about ADNI, please visit the ADNI website.
  • Researchers seeking access to ADNI data can visit the ADNI website.