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[Preprint]. 2024 Nov 16:2024.11.12.24316919. [Version 3] doi: 10.1101/2024.11.12.24316919

Sample size estimates for biomarker-based outcome measures in clinical trials in autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease

David M Cash, Katy E Morgan, Antoinette O’Connor, Thomas D Veale, Ian B Malone, Teresa Poole, Tammie LS Benzinger, Brian A Gordon, Laura Ibanez, Yan Li, Jorge J Llibre-Guerra, Eric McDade, Guoqiao Wang, Jasmeer P Chhatwal, Gregory S Day, Edward Huey, Mathias Jucker, Johannes Levin, Yoshiki Niimi, James M Noble, Jee Hoon Roh, Racquel Sánchez-Valle, Peter R Schofield, Randall J Bateman, Chris Frost, Nick C Fox; The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN)
PMCID: PMC11601746  PMID: 39606328

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer disease (AD)-modifying therapies are approved for treatment of early-symptomatic AD. Autosomal dominant AD (ADAD) provides a unique opportunity to test therapies in presymptomatic individuals.

METHODS

Using data from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN), sample sizes for clinical trials were estimated for various cognitive, imaging, and CSF outcomes.

RESULTS

Biomarkers measuring amyloid and tau pathology had required sample sizes below 200 participants per arm (examples CSF Aβ42/40: 22[95%CI 13,46], cortical PIB 32[20,57], CSF p-tau181 58[40,112]) for a four-year trial to have 80% power (5% statistical significance) to detect a 25% reduction in absolute levels of pathology, allowing 40% dropout. For cognitive, MRI, and FDG, it was more appropriate to detect a 50% reduction in rate of change. Sample sizes ranged from 75-250 (examples precuneus volume: 137[80,284], cortical FDG: 256[100,1208], CDR-SB: 161[102,291]).

DISCUSSION

Despite the rarity of ADAD, clinical trials with feasible sample sizes given the number of cases appear possible.

Full Text

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