Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease – often referred to as "younger Alzheimer’s disese" to avoid confusion with early-stage Alzheimer’s – affects individuals between the ages of 40 and 65 at the time of diagnosis. This rare form of the disease affects approximately 5% of the 6.5 million people in the United States diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS), the largest study of its kind in the world, is interested in exploring sporadic early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
LEADS
To learn more about LEADS, or to become a participant or donate to the study, visit the LEADS website.
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Gaining a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease
IU School of Medicine researcher Liana Apostolova is leading efforts to investigate early-onset Alzheimer’s disease – research which may ultimately help unearth the next cure for the disease.
Reach and Impact
700
participants
$78
million in NIH grant dollars
23
clinical research sites
International LEADS
With a more than $700,000 grant from the Alzheimer's Association, funded entirely by the association's Greater Indiana Chapter, LEADS has expanded internationally to include five new sites in Europe and South America. International LEADS, or iLEADS, will support locations in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Barcelona, Spain; London, England; and Malmö, Sweden.
Finding answers
Led by Liana Apostolova, MD, LEADS partners with an elite team of researchers from across the country and world to compare baseline and longitudinal cognitive and functional characteristics of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease with those of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The observational study follows 100 cognitively normal patients and 600 participants who have some type of cognitive impairment — typically either early-onset Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease — at 18 sites across the United States and five international sites in Europe and South America. LEADS, driven by researchers at IU School of Medicine, aims to fill the gap in research for those with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease to better identify optimal outcome measures and eventually develop a cure for this devastating disease. The clinical data collected by investigators at IU School of Medicine and their partners nationwide will enable scientists to discover additional genetic contributors to the development of Alzheimer’s disease as well as new clinical and cognitive outcome measures for use in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
LEADS investigators
Liana G. Apostolova, MD, MS
Associate Dean of Alzheimer's Disease Research
latest leads news
IU-led early-onset Alzheimer's study expands globally
The largest study of early-onset Alzheimer's disease in the United States, headquartered at the Indiana University School of Medicine, is growing to include five new sites in Europe and South America.
Pioneering early-onset Alzheimer’s disease study is focus of Alzheimer's & Dementia special issue
Largest early onset Alzheimer study in nation drives diversity
Curiosity drives Apostolova research in leading major Alzheimers study at IU School of Medicine
LEADS study gets $1 million from local Alzheimer’s Association chapter
IU-led study of younger Alzheimer’s patients aims to pave the way toward new treatments
IU awarded $7.6 million grant to establish groundbreaking study of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
Interview an IU School of Medicine Expert
Schedule an interview with an IU school of Medicine faculty member or receive materials and resources about Alzheimer’s disease research by contacting the IU School of Medicine media relations team.