One of the goals of ADNI is the collection of biospecimens, including blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from participants. Interested investigators, whether associated with an ADNI site or not, are encouraged to apply for use of this limited resource. However, use of ADNI samples for technology development or comparisons among different technologies is not recommended for well-established analysis unless there is preliminary data showing clearly superior performance.

Additionally, several analyses results performed by the ADNI Biomarker Core will be available in the Data Archive as follows:

• Homocysteine
• Species of isoprostanes
• CSF tau, sAPP? levels, BACE levels, and enzyme activity
• Plasma A? 40 and A? 42
• Other promising CSF and plasma based on ongoing multiplex immunoassay studies and mass spectrometry MRM studies

For information about access to biospecimen samples, or to apply, visit the Access Samples page. View methodology documents provided by the respective labs in the Biomarker Analysis section.

ADNI 1 Biospecimen Collection

CSF¹: CSF was not collected from everyone in ADNI-1, just those that volunteered and consented to have a lumbar puncture. Urine and blood were collected on everyone

ADNI GO Biospecimen Collection

ADNI 2 Biospecimen Collection

RAW, PRE- AND POST-PROCESSED IMAGE FILES, PIB (ADNI1), FDG (ADNI1/GO/2), FLORBETAPIR (ADNI GO/2/3), FLORBETABEN (ADNI3), and TAU IMAGING (ADNI3)

The collection of these images is central to meeting ADNI’s objective of developing biomarkers to track both the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and changes in the underlying pathology. The table below represents an overview of the PET data collected throughout the ADNI study (see table superscript references in the following paragraph).

ADNI 3: Tau and Amyloid imaging will be performed on all participants at their initial ADNI 3 visit. The subsequent Tau imaging schedule depends on amyloid status: 80% of amyloid positive and 20% of amyloid negative participants will have three additional tau scans, whereas the remaining 80% of amyloid negative and 20% amyloid positive participants will have 1 additional tau scan (see diagram). Amyloid PET imaging will be performed every 2 years using florbetapir (participants continuing from ADNI2) or florbetaben (newly enrolled participants). FDG-PET imaging will only be performed on MCI and AD participants at baseline only (see diagram).

ADNI 2: Florbetapir (formerly AV-45)¹ PET and FDG PET imaging were performed on all newly enrolled participants on two separate days (minimum 12hr time lapse). Scans were performed within two weeks before or two weeks after the in-clinic assessments at Baseline and at 24 months after Baseline. ADNI 2 subjects had up to 3 florbetapir scans and up to 2 FDG scans, each acquired at 2-year time intervals.

ADNI 1/GO: Patients in ADNI1 initially received PIB3² scans instead of Florbetapir scans. However, the protocol was amended before the conclusion of the study to include the adoption of Florbetapir scans over PIB scans due to processing time limits. Therefore, PIB was only used on a small set of participants (approximately 100) in ADNI 1. For ADNI1 CN and MCI participants who continued into ADNI GO and then to ADNI2, initial PET scans occur two years from that date of the last successful Florbetapir and FDG PET scan under ADNI GO. In ADNI1, only a subset of participants received FDG.

For more information, please refer to the study protocols and the FAQ page.

Note: When searching the database for baseline or Timepoint 1? data, users should select both “screening” and “baseline” from the visit selection box.

Available Image Data

Download the PDF here. Note that not all subjects will have every type of image data, depending on the study and acquisition site.

Additional Resources:

• ADNI 1 PET Technical Procedures
• PET PIB Technical Manual
• ADNI GO PET Technical Procedures
• ADNI 2 PET Technical Procedures

Raw PET 3D Neuro Dynamic

Processed PET (AV-45)

Post-Processed PET warped with Talairach

Co-Registered Processed PET

Raw Resting State PET

RAW, PRE- AND POST-PROCESSED IMAGE FILES, fMRI AND DTI

The collection of these images is central to meeting ADNI’s objective of developing biomarkers to track both the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and changes in the underlying pathology.

The table below represents an overview of the MRI data collected throughout the ADNI study.

Since its launch in 2004, the overarching aim of the ADNI study has been realized in informing the design of therapeutic trials in AD. ADNI3 continues the previously funded ADNI1, ADNI-GO, and ADNI2 studies that have combined public/private collaborations between academia and industry to determine the relationships between the clinical, cognitive, imaging, genetic and biochemical biomarker characteristics of the entire spectrum of sporadic late onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Our strategy is based on the concept that AD can be characterized by the accumulation of A? and phosphorylated tau, synaptic loss and neurodegeneration, leading to cognitive decline. Clinical/cognitive measures lack both sensitivity and specificity to detect AD pathology. Instead, biomarkers are more reliably used to identify participants at risk for cognitive decline and to measure disease progression. This project will collect MRI (structural, diffusion weighted imaging, perfusion, and resting state sequences); amyloid PET using florbetapir F18 (florbetapir) or florbetaben F18 (florbetaben); 18F-FDG-PET (FDG-PET); CSF for A?, tau, phosphorylated tau (AKA phosphotau), and other proteins; AV-1451 PET; and genetic and autopsy data to determine the relationship of these biomarkers to baseline clinical status and cognitive decline.

The data types and responsible PIs are listed below. These numeric data types are provided for each MR exam in ADNI 3. For full details see the ADNI 3 MRI User Manual on either the Documents page or the ADNI 3 page. Details about each associated PI can be found on the Methods and Tools page.

Additional Resources:

• ADNI3 MRI Analysis Manual
• ADNI3 MRI Technical Manual
• ADNI 3 MRI Protocols Quick Guide
• ADNI3 MRI Scanner Protocols

Raw MRI using MP-RAGE

Processed DTI with EPI Correction

Axial Raw DTI

Post-Processed MRI using FreeSurfer

DEMOGRAPHICS, CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS, AND COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS

The ADNI clinical dataset comprises clinical information about each subject including recruitment, demographics, physical examinations, and cognitive assessment data. The full set of clinical data may be downloaded in bulk as comma separated values (CSV) files.

The chart below summarizes clinical data that is collected.

ADNI clinical data are collected and managed by the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI).

ILLUMINA SNP GENOTYPING

Genetic factors play an important role in Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, a key aim of the ADNI is to provide researchers with the opportunity to combine genetics with imaging and clinical data to help investigate mechanisms of the disease. Genotyping and sequencing data have been generated for ADNI 1, ADNI GO and ADNI 2 subjects and are available to ADNI investigators. A summary of the available data is shown below.  Please see the Genetic Data Methods section for more information about the Illumina Genotyping Assays.

Summary of Available Sequencing Data

Summary of Available Genotyping Data

Genome-Wide Association Studies

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) employ tests of association between markers, called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and a phenotype of interest. Findings from case-control GWAS and other types of genetic association studies can provide targets for examining quantitative phenotypes derived from ADNI imaging and other biomarker data sets. GWAS data is available for download to qualified researchers.

For more information, refer to the following paper:

“Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative biomarkers as quantitative phenotypes: Genetics core aims, progress, and plans.” Saykin AJ, et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2010 May;6(3):265-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2010.03.013. PMID: 20451875

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)

In July 2012, the Brin-Wojcicki Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association donated funds to support whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 818 ADNI participants (at the time: 128 with AD, 415 with MCI, 267 controls and 8 of uncertain diagnosis). Samples were sent to Illumina, where non-CLIA WGS, as well as Illumina Omni 2.5M genome-wide association study (GWAS) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, were performed on each sample and completed in Spring 2013. Basic quality control checks were then performed and additional checks are continually performed.

WGS SNPs data is currently available to authorized ADNI investigators from within the ADNI Archive. Many users will find this suitable for their needs. Because the actual raw data amounts to over 150TB, it cannot be reasonably distributed over the internet. However, if users wish to re-call variants or realign the reads using other toolkits, they may request access to the entire WGS raw dataset.

Summary of Whole Genome Sequencing Data

*There are 809 individuals in the CASAVA VCF files and 808 individuals in the GATK VCF files.

Obtaining WGS Data

WGS SNPs data is available to authorized ADNI investigators from within the ADNI Data Archive. To obtain SNPs data, visit the Access Data page to apply for an account or to login. Once logged in, the data is located on the Download Genetic Data page.

WGS Assembly data amounts to approximately 150TB and therefore cannot be reasonably distributed through the ADNI Data Archive. Investigators seeking to obtain the WGS Assembly data must:

• Maintain an active ADNI data archive account
• Agree to and adhere to the terms of the ADNI Data Use Agreement
• Agree to and adhere to the terms of the ADNI Whole Genome Sequencing Data Use Agreement

Instructions for Requesting WGS Assembly Data

Please follow these steps to acquire WGS Assembly data:

1. Download, review and sign the ADNI Whole Genome Sequencing Data Use Agreement
2. Email the completed agreement to  adni@loni.usc.edu. Enter “ADNI WGS Data Request” in the subject line. Requests for data will be filled in the order received.
3. The Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI) will send an email confirmation with Aspera transfer instructions and login credentials.

For information on the collection, informed consent, sharing, storage, and quality control of WGS data, please refer to Introduction and Procedures for Accessing Data from Whole Genome Sequencing of ADNI.