---
title: "Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (KGAD)"
id: "1023"
type: "cohort"
slug: "knight-alzheimers-disease-research-center-kgad"
published_at: "2020-02-19T15:16:44+00:00"
modified_at: "2024-09-18T16:55:30+00:00"
url: "https://dss.niagads.org/cohorts/knight-alzheimers-disease-research-center-kgad/"
markdown_url: "https://dss.niagads.org/cohorts/knight-alzheimers-disease-research-center-kgad.md"
excerpt: "The search for novel risk factors for Alzheimer disease relies on access to accurate and deeply phenotyped datasets. The Memory and Aging Project at the Knight-ADRC (Knight ADRC-MAP) collects plasma, CSF, fibroblast, neuroimaging clinical and cognition data longitudinally and autopsied..."
taxonomy_cohort_categories:
  - "ADSP"
taxonomy_cohort_countries:
  - "United States of America"
---

Website:

[https://knightadrc.wustl.edu/](https://knightadrc.wustl.edu/)

## Description

The search for novel risk factors for Alzheimer disease relies on access to accurate and deeply phenotyped datasets. The Memory and Aging Project at the Knight-ADRC (Knight ADRC-MAP) collects plasma, CSF, fibroblast, neuroimaging clinical and cognition data longitudinally and autopsied brain samples. We are using multi-tissue (brain, CSF and plasma) multi-omic data (genetics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) to identify novel risk and protective variants, create new prediction models and identify drug targets. The study cohort includes MAP participants from the Knight-ADRC at Washington University in St. Louis (MO). MAP participants have to be at least 65 years old and have no memory problems or mild dementia at the time of enrollment. There is no age at onset criteria for this cohort. Cases had to have a CDR >=0.5 whereas controls had to have a CDR=0 at last assessment. AD definition is based on a combination of both clinical and pathological information if available. Pathologic diagnosis will overrule clinical diagnosis. Participants are Non-Hispanic white from North America (95%) and African American (5%). Autopsy information was provided if available, but it is not a requirement for enrollment.

## Related Datasets

- [NG00024 – ADC3 – Alzheimer’s Disease Center Dataset 3](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00024/) This GWAS dataset, ADC3, is the third set of ADC genotyped subjects used by the Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC) to identify genes associated with an increased risk of developing… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00024/)
- [NG00030 – WashU1 GWAS](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00030/) WashU1 GWAS is an SNP array dataset which contains AD cases and controls collected by the Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Washington University. It was used in the… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00030/)
- [NG00035 – GWAS of CSF tau levels identifies risk variants for Alzheimer’s Disease](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00035/) Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau, tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (ptau), and Aβ₄₂ are established biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and have been used as quantitative traits for genetic analyses. This… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00035/)
- [NG00050 – GWAS of CLU, A potential endophenotype for Alzheimer’s disease](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00050/) This dataset is part of a genome-wide association study investigating the role of Clusterin (CLU – Endophenotype for AD) in Alzheimer’s Disease. It includes imputed genotype data with 6,015,512 SNPs,… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00050/)
- [NG00067 – ADSP Umbrella](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00067/) This dataset includes sequencing data and harmonized phenotypes from cohorts sequenced by the Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project and other AD and Related Dementia’s studies. Samples are processed using a common… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00067/)
- [NG00087 – WashU2 GWAS](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00087/) WashU2 GWAS is an SNP array dataset which contains AD cases and controls collected by the Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Washington University. It consists of 38 cases,… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00087/)
- [NG00102 – Genomic atlas of the proteome from brain, CSF and plasma prioritizes proteins implicated in neurological disorders](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00102/) Understanding the tissue-specific genetic controls of protein levels is essential to uncover mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene regulation. We previously generated a genomic atlas of protein levels in three tissues relevant… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00102/)
- [NG00108 – Profiling microglia expression profiles in AD using single-nuclei RNA-seq](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00108/) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent cause of dementia. While there is no effective treatment for AD, a growing body of evidence points to passive immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00108/)
- [NG00113 – Metabolomic and lipidomic signatures in Alzheimer disease brains](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00113/) The identification of genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) provides additional to support that multiple pathways contribute to its onset and progression. However, the metabolomic and lipidomic profiles altered… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00113/)
- [NG00114 – DNA Methylation in Alzheimer disease brains](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00114/) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder with many biological processes, and molecular changes. The etiology of AD is complex and not specific to a single genetic factor. Epigenetic… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00114/)
- [NG00127 – A longitudinal study of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementing illnesses – KnightADRC GWAS](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00127/) The search for novel risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease relies on access to accurate and deeply phenotyped datasets. The Memory and Aging Project at the Knight-ADRC (Knight ADRC-MAP) collects plasma,… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00127/)
- [NG00128 – Proteomic profiling identified plasma biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity of COVID-19 patients](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00128/) The goal of WU350 cohort is to address the many complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the 332 COVID-19 cases, ~90% were symptomatic patients, 93.7% were hospitalized, 46.7% with ICU… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00128/)
- [NG00142-Plasma Cell-Free RNA Transcriptomics for AD and Related Dementia](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00142/) This dataset includes 119 samples from healthy control participants without dementia, 65 samples from presymptomatic AD participants (CDR®=0 at draw and current clinical diagnostic of AD), 42 samples from early… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00142/)
- [NG00167 – Brain Small RNA Transcriptomics for AD and Related Dementias](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00167/) Brain samples were obtained from the Knight-ADRC at Washington University in Saint Louis repository. This is a deeply phenotyped cohort, both clinically and molecularly, with longitudinal data and samples available.… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00167/)
- [NG00168 – Plasma Small RNA Transcriptomics for AD and Related Dementias](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00168/) Plasma samples were obtained from the Knight-ADRC at Washington University in Saint Louis repositories. This is a deeply phenotyped cohort, both clinically and molecularly with longitudinal data and samples available.… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00168/)
- [NG00176-CNVs from ADSP WES data using CANOES software](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00176/) This dataset contains Copy Number Variation (CNV) calling from the Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) from multiple distinct Alzheimer Disease (AD) sequencing projects: both discovery and replication ADSP family dataset, ADSP… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/datasets/ng00176/)

## Related Studies

- [sa000003 - Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC)](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000003/) The ADGC is a large U.S. based consortium formed to collaboratively use the collective resources of the AD research community to resolve Alzheimer’s disease (AD) genetics. Working with the National… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000003/)
- [sa000013 - APOE Extremes WGS Study](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000013/) The APOE extremes whole genome sequencing (WGS) study entails Alzheimer’s disease (AD) case-control association analysis using an age extremes sampling approach stratified by APOE genotype, comparing younger onset AD cases… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000013/)
- [sa000008 - Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (Knight ADRC)](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000008/) The search for novel risk factors for Alzheimer disease relies on access to accurate and deeply phenotyped datasets. The Memory and Aging Project at the Knight-ADRC (Knight ADRC-MAP) collects plasma,… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000008/)
- [sa000023 - Dissecting the Genomic Etiology of non-Mendelian Early-Onset Alzheimer Disease (EOAD) and Related Phenotypes](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000023/) Background: Genomic studies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have primarily focused on non-Hispanic White (NHW) participants affected by the late-onset form of the disease (LOAD; onset age: >65), or the study… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000023/)
- [sa000081 - Extremely Rare CNVs and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk: Analysis of ADSP WES Data](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000081/) The purpose of this study is to find new Alzheimer related variants and genes, by combining exome data from healthy controls and Alzheimer patients from different studies. CNV calling was… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000081/)
- [sa000059 - Genetic Architecture of Alzheimer’s disease and Related Proteinopathies](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000059/) This is a collaborative study between investigators from the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and Washington University (WashU) to delineate the genetic architecture of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related proteinopathies. The… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000059/)
- [sa000026 - Knight ADRC & WU350](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000026/) Identification of the plasma proteomic changes of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential to understanding the pathophysiology of the disease and developing predictive models and novel therapeutics. There are no… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000026/)
- [sa000052 - Plasma Cell-Free RNA Transcriptomics for AD and Related Dementias](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000052/) Plasma samples were obtained from the Knight-ADRC and the Movement Disorder Clinic (MDC) at Washington University in Saint Louis repositories. These are deeply phenotyped cohorts, both clinically and molecularly with… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000052/)
- [sa000004 - The Familial Alzheimer Sequencing (FASe) project](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000004/) GWAS studies were very successful in identifying genetic loci associated with AD risk. However, these studies could not point to the actual causal variant. In this study, WES and/or WGS… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/studies/sa000004/)

## Related Sample Sets

- [snd10008 - KnightADRC WES](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10008/) KnightADRC samples were sequenced at MGI on the HiSeq4000 machine. 75 samples were sequenced using the IDT xGen Exome Whole Exome Research Panel v1.0 w/Custom Spike-In Baits and 586 samples… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10008/)
- [snd10019 - KnightADRC WGS](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10019/) Knight ADRC samples were whole-genome sequenced at Broad/Genentech either on the HiSeqX or HiSeq2000/2500 machine. Samples in either format (BAM files from hg37 build and FASTQ files) were sent to… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10019/)
- [snd10021 - Microglia expression profiles in AD](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10021/) The microglia profile of the Parietal lobe of 44 donors from the Knight ADRC were sequenced using 10X genomics 3’ Chemistry v3 (10,000 nuclei per donor, 50,000 reads per nuclei),… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10021/)
- [snd10024 - Harari Metabolomics](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10024/) The identification of genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) provides additional to support that multiple pathways contribute to its onset and progression. However, the metabolomic and lipidomic profiles altered… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10024/)
- [snd10025 - Harari Methylation](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10025/) Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder with many biological processes, and molecular changes. The etiology of AD is complex and not specific to a single genetic factor. Epigenetic… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10025/)
- [snd10032 - EOAD1 WGS](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10032/) The EOAD samples were sequenced at USUHS on the NovaSeq machine. 3176 samples were sequenced and FASTQ files were sent to GCAD for processing on the VCPA 1.1 pipeline. A… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10032/)
- [snd10036 - KnightADRC GWAS](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10036/) The data being submitted includes GWAS for 4,496 participants from the Knight-ADRC MAP study. Participants include 1,958 AD cases (58% Females, 56% APOE4+, average age 73), 755 ADRD cases (FTD,… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10036/)
- [snd10038 - Knight ADRC & WU350](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10038/) The goal of WU350 cohort is to address the many complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the 332 COVID-19 cases, ~90% were symptomatic patients, 93.7% were hospitalized, 46.7% with ICU… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10038/)
- [snd10048 - Genomic atlas of the proteome from brain, CSF and plasma prioritizes proteins implicated in neurological disorders](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10048/) Understanding the tissue-specific genetic controls of protein levels is essential to uncover mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene regulation. We previously generated a genomic atlas of protein levels in three tissues relevant… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10048/)
- [snd10060 - ADGC ADC Round 3](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10060/) The ADC3 sample set was genotyped by the Center for Applied Genomics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia using the Illumina Human OmniExpress (HumanOmniExpress-12v1_A) BeadChip which captures genotype data on… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10060/)
- [snd10085 - Plasma Cell-Free RNA Transcriptomics](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10085/) 400 samples were sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 and Illumina HiSeq 2500. The dataset comprises raw sequencing data in FASTQ format and normalized gene counts for all samples. The normalized… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10085/)
- [snd10095 - EOAD2 WGS](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10095/) 1,264 samples were sequenced at USUHS on the NovaSeq machine. FASTQ files were sent to GCAD for processing on the VCPA 1.1 pipeline. A total of 1,183 samples passed sequencing… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10095/)
- [snd10098 - Amyloid-WU WGS](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10098/) The sample dataset was collected from the KnightADRC cohort. 1,113 participants were sequenced by MGI using Illumina NovaSeq technology. FASTQ and BAM files were sent to GCAD for processing. A… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10098/)
- [snd10101 - FASe-Families2 WGS](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10101/) 659 samples were sequenced by USUHS and Macrogen on the NovaSeq and Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. GCAD received FASTQ and CRAM files for processing. A total of 646 samples passed… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10101/)
- [snd10103 - APOEExtremes1 WGS](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10103/) 27 samples were sequenced at Genentech on Illumina HiSeqX and Illumina platforms. CRAM files were sent to GCAD for processing. A total of 21 samples passed sequencing metrics and quality… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10103/)
- [snd10111 - Knight ADRC GWAS of CSF](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10111/) Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau, tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (ptau), and Aβ₄₂ are established biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and have been used as quantitative traits for genetic analyses. This… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10111/)
- [snd10112 - Knight ADRC GWAS of CLU](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10112/) This dataset is part of a genome-wide association study investigating the role of Clusterin (CLU - Endophenotype for AD) in Alzheimer's Disease. It includes imputed genotype data with 6,015,512 SNPs,… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10112/)
- [snd10126 - Brain Small RNA Transcriptomics ADRD](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10126/) This data includes brain samples that were obtained from the Knight-ADRC at Washington University in St. Louis repository. This is a deeply phenotyped cohort, both clinically and molecularly, with longitudinal… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10126/)
- [snd10127 - Plasma Small RNA Transcriptomics ADRD](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10127/) This data includes plasma samples that were obtained from the Knight-ADRC at Washington University in St. Louis repositories. This is a deeply phenotyped cohort, both clinically and molecularly with longitudinal… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10127/)
- [snd10129 - WashU1 GWAS](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10129/) The WashU1 sample set was genotyped using the Illumina Human610-Quad BeadChip. The standard Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC) quality control pipeline (Naj et al. 2011) was applied to this GWAS… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10129/)
- [snd10130 - WashU2 GWAS](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10130/) The WashU2 sample set was genotyped at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia using the Illumina Infinium OmniExpress BeadChip which captures genotype data on 730,525 genomic SNPs. The standard Alzheimer's Disease… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10130/)
- [snd10139 - CNV Calling from ADSP Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) Data](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10139/) This dataset comprises CNV calls from Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) across multiple distinct Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) sequencing projects, including the discovery and replication ADSP family datasets, the ADSP case-control dataset,… [Learn more](https://dss.niagads.org/sample-sets/snd10139/)

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