# Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network: Cognition Core

> **NIH NIH U19** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $331,638

## Abstract

Core H: Cognition SUMMARY
The Cognition Core of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) is a newly formed core that will
serve the overall grant by overseeing rater training and maintaining rigorous quality control (QC) and
documentation standards that ensure the fidelity of longitudinal cognitive assessments. A primary goal of the
core is to revise the cognitive assessment battery to align with scientific aims and minimize participant burden.
We will remove burdensome and insensitive measures and incorporate novel measures and novel assessment
methodologies that are more sensitive to early cognitive changes. These methodologies will improve reliability
in measurement of the key features of autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD). The assessment of
cognition is central for achieving the scientific aims of all DIAN Projects and Cores. The Cognition Core will
work with the Project and Core leaders to ensure that fully validated cognitive data is available for DIAN data
freezes and provide guidance on appropriate cognitive measures and data analyses to support project and
core aims.
 Due to the unique value of the ADAD population, there is great enthusiasm from DIAN investigators and
external investigators to add novel cognitive measures to DIAN. However, any revisions or additions to the
battery can be extraordinarily complicated in a global study like DIAN. The Cognition Core has formed an
advisory board including leaders in clinical neuropsychology and cognitive psychology from academic
institutions and industry who have specific expertise in global AD studies, clinical trials, computerized
assessment, and remote technologies. In consultation with the advisory board, the Cognition Core has
developed a formalized process for evaluating, piloting, and integrating new cognitive measures. This process
involves scrutiny of preliminary data, test characteristics, availability of translations and suitability for remote
test administration.
 A goal of the DIAN renewal is to harmonize DIAN across all affiliated studies to maximize the power of this
remarkable dataset for insights into the essential characteristics of ADAD and to support more effective clinical
trials. A dedicated Cognition Core serves this mission directly by creating multiple efficiencies across DIAN, the
DIAN-Trials Unit (DIAN-TU) and the DIAN Expanded Registry (DIAN EXR). Core measures of the cognitive
assessment battery in DIAN formed the basis for the DIAN-TU battery, but there remain crucial differences in
the assessments collected, differences in rater training and certification, differences in QC processes, and
DIAN only recently has implemented a rigorous system of documentation. A dedicated core will align these
procedures, improve QC processes, and facilitate communications between sites and the DIAN Coordinating
Center, thus achieving a critical aim of the core: to improve the rigor and reproducibility of cognitive data
collected across all DIAN studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10462563
- **Project number:** 5U19AG032438-11
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jason J Hassenstab
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $331,638
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2008-09-15 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10462563

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10462563, Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network: Cognition Core (5U19AG032438-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10462563. Licensed CC0.

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