title: The AddNeuroMed framework for multi-centre MRI assessment of Alzheimer's disease: experience from the first 24 months.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the AddNeuroMed imaging framework for multi-centre magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of longitudinal changes in Alzheimer's disease and report on early results from the first 24 months of the project.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-centre study similarly to a faux clinical trial has been established to assess longitudinal MRI changes in Alzheimer disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy control subjects using an image acquisition protocol compatible with Alzheimer disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI). Comprehensive quality control (QC) measures have been established throughout the study. An intelligent web-accessible database holds details on both the raw images and data processed using a sophisticated image analysis pipeline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 378 subjects have been recruited (130 AD, 131 MCI, 117 healthy controls) of which a high percentage (97.3%) of the T1-weighted volumes passed the QC criteria. Measurements of normalized whole brain volume and whole brain cortical thickness showed significant differences between AD and controls, AD and MCI and MCI and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A framework for multi-centre MRI studies of Alzheimer's disease has been established consisting of a harmonized MRI acquisition protocol across centres, rigorous QC at both the sites and central data analysis hub and an automated image analysis pipeline. Early results demonstrate the high quality of the images acquired and the applicability of the automated image analysis techniques employed.
authors.affiliation: NIHR Specialist Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK. a.simmons@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Westman
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muehlboeck
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mecocci
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vellas
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsolaki
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kłoszewska
authors.forename: Lars-Olof
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Wahlund
authors.forename: Hilkka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soininen
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lovestone
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spenger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011786:Quality Control