TWINGEN – protocol for an observational clinical biobank recall and biomarker study to identify individuals with high risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Vuoksimaa Eero , Saari Toni T. , Aaltonen Aino , Aaltonen Sari , Herukka Sanna-Kaisa , Iso-Markku Paula , Kokkola Tarja , Kyttälä Aija , Kärkkäinen Sari , Liedes Hilkka , Ollikainen Miina , Palviainen Teemu , Ruotsalainen Ilona , Toivola Auli , Urjansson Mia , Vasankari Tommi , Vähä-Ypyä Henri , Forsberg Markus M. , Hiltunen Mikko , Jalanko Anu , Kälviäinen Reetta , Kuopio Teijo , Lähteenmäki Jaakko , Nyberg Pia , Männikkö Minna , Serpi Raisa , Siltanen Sanna ,   FinnGen, Palotie Aarno , Kaprio Jaakko , Runz Heiko , Julkunen Valtteri 
Published: November 2023

Introduction

A better understanding of the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could expedite the development or administration of treatments. Large population biobanks hold the promise to identify individuals at an elevated risk of AD and related dementias based on health registry information. Here, we establish the protocol for an observational clinical recall and biomarker study called TWINGEN with the aim to identify individuals at high risk of AD by assessing cognition, health and AD-related biomarkers. Suitable candidates were identified and invited to participate in the new study among Finnish biobank donors according to TWINGEN study criteria.

Methods and analysis

A multi-center study (n=800) to obtain blood-based biomarkers, telephone-administered and web-based memory and cognitive parameters, questionnaire information on lifestyle, health and psychological factors, and accelerometer data for measures of physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep. A sub-cohort are being asked to participate in an in-person neuropsychological assessment (n=200) and wear an Oura ring (n=50). All participants in the TWINGEN study have genome-wide genotyping data and up to 48 years of follow-up data from the population-based older Finnish Twin Cohort (FTC) study of the University of Helsinki. TWINGEN data will be transferred to Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) biobank and we aim to further to transfer it to the FinnGen study where it will be combined with health registry data for prediction of AD.

Ethics and dissemination

This recall study consists of FTC/THL/FinnGen participants whose data were acquired in accordance with the Finnish Biobank Act. The recruitment protocols followed the biobank protocols approved by Finnish Medicines Agency. The TWINGEN study plan was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (number 16831/2022). THL Biobank approved the research plan with the permission no: THLBB2022_83.

Article summary

Strengths and limitations of this study

A large sample of individuals is recruited from a representative biobank database

Using health registry information, we exclude those with documented AD or other neurological or psychiatric diseases that can affect cognition. Pre-screening limits the sending of unnecessary invitations and saves costs

Participants have up to 48 years of follow-up questionnaire and clinical data from the Finnish Twin Cohort study and these data can be combined with multifaceted Finnish health registry information. Previous genotype data is available in the biobank from all TWINGEN study participants.

We assess the feasibility of remote cognitive testing and blood samples in large-scale screening of AD risk, translating to the requirements of intervention trials and clinical practice

Limitations of the study are a lack of gold standard biomarkers (cerebrospinal fluid, positron emission tomography imaging) and neurological examinations