The European Platform for Neurodegenerative Diseases (EPND) project has announced the release of a large biomarker dataset, to support research across Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies. The dataset, developed as part of EPND’s first biomarker case study, is now accessible via the EPND Hub. Alzheimer Europe is a partner in EPND, contributing to public involvement, stakeholder engagement and communications activities.
The ATN dataset comprises harmonised clinical, imaging, genetic, and biomarker data from more than 350 participants across ten European research cohorts, involving clinical centres in Denmark, Germany, Czechia, Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. It integrates biomarker measurements with demographic, clinical, and lifestyle data, enabling comprehensive investigation of disease mechanisms across different neurodegenerative diseases.
Initial analyses, presented by EPND partners at the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, indicate that pathologies such as amyloid and tau (typically associated with Alzheimer’s disease) also appear in cases of dementia with Lewy bodies and, to a lesser extent, Parkinson’s disease. These findings illustrate how cross-disease biomarker research could inform diagnostic strategies and future clinical trial design.
The dataset is hosted on the EPND Hub, an integrated platform developed to enable secure, GDPR-compliant access to data and biosamples from over 100 neurodegeneration studies. Designed to facilitate cross-cohort discovery and collaboration, the Hub currently includes metadata on more than 265,000 research participants across 12 disease areas, along with access brokerage tools, federated data access, and compatibility with platforms such as the AD Workbench. Researchers are encouraged to register on the EPND Hub to explore the ATN dataset and other available resources.
