# Clinical Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $967,128

## Abstract

ABSTRACT- CLINICAL CORE
The Clinical Core (CC) is central to the function of the NYU ADRC by providing comprehensive evaluations and
accurate research diagnoses for participants engaged in its long-standing longitudinal study of normal versus
pathologic cognitive aging. The CC has made significant advances in the characterization of preclinical to
dementia stages: establishing subjective cognitive decline as a prodromal stage, developing widely used scales
for clinical phenotyping, and helping establish important imaging biomarkers of early stage disease. We continue
our goal to understand mechanisms that influence transitions towards dementia. We emphasize the study of
critical, early transitions (normal->preclinical/prodromal->MCI) and how they relate to state-of-the-art biomarkers
of the ATN framework and AD/ADRD heterogeneity. Our approach will combine standard UDS 3 assessments
with an innovative NYU-specific protocol that uses advanced MR and PET neuroimaging, robust clinical
phenotyping schemes, and new biofluid/disease monitoring strategies. We propose 4 specific aims. Aim 1 is to
comprehensively characterize a cohort of ~500 community-dwelling older adults [70% normal, 20-25% MCI, 40%
from Black/African-American and Latino groups] with (a) a unique protocol for longitudinal clinical phenotyping
and biomarker analysis to evaluate preclinical/prodromal disease and AD/ADRD heterogeneity, (b) timely data
reporting to participants and national repositories, and, (c) brain donation consenting to establish clinical-
biomarker-pathological correlations. Aim 2 is to support a large network of interventional AD/ADRD trials and in-
house affiliated studies on multi-etiology dementia by maintaining a dynamic registry of “study-ready”
participants. Aim 3 is to improve the clinical phenotyping of at-risk/early stage subjects by (a) developing novel
characterization schemes for neuropsychiatric symptoms and SCD and (b) leveraging emerging technology to
investigate digital biomarkers related to cognition, sleep, and motor function. Aim 4 is to improve clinical skills of
dementia practitioners, promote the use of CC data for AD/ADRD research among early career investigators,
and educate the public about AD/ADRD and the value of normal controls and brain/biospecimen donation. These
aims allow the CC to advance its state-of-the-art program that is well poised to answer critical questions within
the current AD/ADRD research framework and contribute to NAPA research implementation milestones.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10148609
- **Project number:** 5P30AG066512-02
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Arjun Vijay Masurkar
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $967,128
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10148609

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10148609, Clinical Core (5P30AG066512-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10148609. Licensed CC0.

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