The recent Alzheimer Europe conference showcased several initiatives that are shaping the future of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research, with a strong emphasis on collaborative public-private partnerships. These innovative platforms and partnerships underscore the value of collaborative research, bringing new advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to people affected by, or at risk of dementia. Elisabetta Vaudano, Principal Scientific Manager at the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), discussed the transformative impact of these partnerships, especially through the work of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI).
IMI-funded projects provide a unique framework for uniting research efforts across sectors, amplifying the impact of individual initiatives to benefit people with dementia and society at large. A core principle of these collaborations is a participatory approach, where people with dementia actively contribute as collaborators. This inclusive approach not only enhances the relevance of research outcomes but also ensures that projects align closely with the needs of the dementia community. Elisabetta highlighted the interconnectivity between initiatives, showing how projects are building on advances and leveraging innovations from earlier and ongoing IMI projects.
Claire Chevalier from the University of Geneva presented the European Platform for Neurodegenerative Diseases (EPND), an initiative focused on overcoming barriers to data and sample sharing in biomarker research. EPND addresses the challenges of data silos, regulatory requirements, and accessibility, connecting over 80 research cohorts with data from 250,000 patients across neurodegenerative diseases. By facilitating data discovery, biobanking, and data harmonisation, EPND accelerates research and is paving the way for breakthrough studies on biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related conditions.
Another key initiative presented was the AD-RIDDLE project, by Francesca Mangialasche from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. AD-RIDDLE focuses on early AD prevention and personalized care pathways, aiming to improve early detection and intervention methods. With support from the IHI, the project is developing a modular platform that integrates both pharmacological and lifestyle interventions across the AD continuum. EPND is the enabling data platform for AD-RIDDLE, supporting data discovery and analysis between partners, with the aim to make datasets available for wider research and innovation. By addressing each step of the AD care pathway — from awareness and risk reduction to diagnosis and treatment-AD-RIDDLE aims to provide scalable, individualised solutions to manage AD in diverse populations across Europe.
Dag Aarsland from Stavanger University in Norway discussed the PREDICTOM platform, which leverages artificial intelligence to screen for AD risk in a home-based setting. The platform digitally collects and analyzes data on biomarkers, including cognition, eye-tracking, and physiological markers like blood and saliva samples. Dag explained how this AI-driven approach enables early identification of at-risk individuals, with follow-up in-clinic assessments to confirm diagnoses. PREDICTOM hopes to integrate its platform into the clinical pathway, making early AD diagnostics more accessible and accurate.
Finally, Linus Jonsson of Karolinska Institutet introduced the PROMINENT project, a digital platform designed to enhance clinical decision-making for AD patients with complex health conditions. Using data from medical records, mobile devices, and imaging, PROMINENT provides evidence-based insights on the most appropriate treatment options for individual patients. The platform also offers patients and caregivers easy-to-understand information on their brain health, supporting informed decision-making and personalised care. By enabling clinicians to better assess treatment effectiveness in real-world settings, PROMINENT has the potential to transform AD management and set a new standard in patient-centered care.
Learn more about the projects:
EPND: https://epnd.org/
AD-RIDDLE: https://www.ad-riddle.org/
PREDICTOM: https://www.predictom.eu/
PROMINENT: https://www.ihi-prominent.eu/