Genomic and Metabolomic Data Integration in a Longitudinal Cohort at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R01 · $727,928 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY A longitudinal multi-omics examination of β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, cognitive decline, and resilience in the years prior to Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis is critical to better understand, prevent, diagnose, and treat the disease. Common genetic variants in APOE and 19 additional genes have been associated with AD. Low frequency and rare functional variants with moderate effects on risk for AD have recently been identified through sequencing studies, with additional variants remaining to be discovered. Metabolic profiles, which reflect the combined effect of genes, intrinsic metabolism, environmental exposure, and interactions between these, have also been associated with AD. However, the cause of AD is not well understood and there are currently no effective preventions or treatments for this common disease. Integration of genomic and metabolomic data will enable thorough and comprehensive modeling and identification of the complex interplay of genes and metabolites involved in AD pathology. Continuing to focus on single-data-type study designs, which do not accurately reflect the complexity of AD, will hinder progress in our understanding of this disease and of effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Our long-term goal is to elucidate complex interactions involved in AD pathology using a comprehensive set of omics data in order to inform precision medicine for AD. The objective of this proposal is to define the role of genomics and metabolomics in Aβ deposition, cognitive decline, and resilience in initially asymptomatic participants with a parental history of AD diagnosed by age 75, with replication in an existing independent cohort. The specific aims are to use genomic sequencing and metabolomics to identify 1) common and rare genetic variants, 2) metabolic profiles, and 3) complex interactions between genomics and metabolomics that are involved in AD, Aβ deposition, cognitive decline, and cognitive resilience. A sample of 344 eligible participants, aged 40-65 at baseline, have been identified from the longitudinal Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP) and ~506 extended family members of these participants will also be enrolled. Participants from the longitudinal Wisconsin-Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (W-ADRC) will be used for replication.

Key facts

NIH application ID
9949573
Project number
5R01AG054047-05
Recipient
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
Principal Investigator
Corinne D. Engelman
Activity code
R01
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2020
Award amount
$727,928
Award type
5
Project period
2016-08-15 → 2022-08-31