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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
DZNE is set to receive about €1 million in funding as part of an international consortium of research institutions, clinics, and industry partners. By paving the way for innovations into routine clinical practice, this collaborative initiative, called “ACCESS-AD”, aims to facilitate earlier diagnosis as well as improve treatment and care for people with Alzheimer’s. The five-year endeavor is part of the EU’s “Innovative Health Initiative”. The DZNE contributes to several sub-projects, for example by applying smartphone-based memory tests to monitor patients receiving treatment.
“Alzheimer’s therapy is at a turning point. Amyloid antibody therapy, which last year received approval in the EU, offers, for the first time, the possibility of slowing the progression of the disease in certain individuals. To fully realize this potential, patient care must also evolve – toward personalized medicine. Facilitating translation of innovations from research into routine clinical practice is therefore an objective of this international research project,” says Prof. Gabor Petzold, Director of Clinical Research at DZNE. “In view of almost 10 million people with dementia in Europe today, most of them having Alzheimer’s, and their numbers expected to rise, there is certainly a need for action.”
ACCESS-AD is largely based on collaboration between academia and industry. The initiative will address a range of topics related to Alzheimer’s disease. “From DZNE’s side, we will focus in particular on monitoring the course of therapy. With innovative methodology, we aim to help ensure that patients are optimally supported in everyday clinical practice,” says Petzold.
Digital indicators
“MRI scans of the brain, blood tests, and analyses of cerebrospinal fluid play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. As an additional element, we and other partners will be contributing digital biomarkers to the project,” says Dr. David Berron, a research group leader at DZNE’s Magdeburg site. “Each of these methods captures different aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. Linking them together can create a detailed overall picture. ACCESS-AD will examine the benefits of such a combination of digital and conventional biomarkers in routine clinical care.”
Memory tests via smartphone
This will involve the use of a dedicated app for smartphones and tablets developed by the Magdeburg-based start-up neotiv, leveraging research findings from DZNE. The app prompts users to complete a memory test regularly. This tool has already been used for several years in pilot projects and scientific studies. “Ultimately, it’s about remembering images. The test only takes some minutes, and our experience shows that older individuals can manage it well,” explains Berron, who, in addition to his work at DZNE, is also Chief Science Officer at neotiv. For ACCESS-AD, the software will be slightly adapted. “In addition to the memory test, users will be asked to tell how they are coping with everyday life. For this, the app will be asking specific questions.”
Hundreds of participants
Previous studies have shown that the app can help to detect “mild cognitive impairment”, which can be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease. “Within ACCESS-AD, we will focus on people who have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and assess how their cognitive performance develops over the course of therapy,” says Berron. “Traditionally, this requires memory testing at the treating clinic or practice. With the app, this can be done conveniently at home, substantially reducing effort. This allows changes in cognitive performance to be monitored more often and thus more precisely than with conventional methods. And ACCESS-AD goes even further. Project partners in Greece will be contributing a smartwatch to detect potential changes in physical activity, mobility and vital signs.”
Several hundred patients across Europe are scheduled to use the app and the smartwatch. “Partially, they will be recruited from DZNE’s study cohort with which we are following the use of the new amyloid antibodies in Germany. However, other research institutions will also apply these digital tools,” says Berron.
Background
The research initiative ACCESS-AD comprises around 30 organizations from the EU and beyond. The project is co-led by Amsterdam University Medical Center, King’s College London, Siemens Healthineers, and Gates Ventures. It is funded for five years by the European Commission’s “Innovative Health Initiative”.
Funding
This project is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) under grant agreement No. 101253010. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and COCIR, EFPIA, Europa Bío, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe, and Anavex, Muhdo and Neurimmune.
https://www.dzne.de/im-fokus/meldungen/2026/dzne-an-europaeischer-forschungsinit... German version of this press release
https://www.access-ad.org/ ACCESS-AD website
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