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 data is being generated from families densely affected by Alzheimer disease (AD) under the hypothesis that these families will be enriched for rare genetic variants that confer risk to AD.  This study included late onset families with a high proportion of AD cases (at least three affected members with DNA data available). The families originated from the NCRAD, NIA-LOAD, Knight-ADRC and DIAN-EXR cohorts. The proband of the family could not be a carrier of known pathogenic mutations in the Mendelian genes for AD (APP, PSEN1, PSEN2) or Frontotemporal Dementia (GRN, MAPT, C9ORF72).  Cases within families had to be 65 years old or older at age at onset (AAO) and have a CDR >=0.5; controls within families had to have a CDR=0 at last assessment and be older than the largest AAO within the family.  AD definition was based on a combination of both clinical and pathological information if available. Clinical diagnosis was overruled by pathological diagnosis.  Subjects are Non-Hispanic white from North America, based on self-reporting. Autopsy information was provided if available, but it was not a requirement for enrollment.

Carlos Cruchaga, Ph.D.
Washington University in St. Louis

Maria Victoria Fernandez, Ph.D.
Washington University in St. Louis

Oscar Harari, Ph.D.
Washington University in St. Louis

National Institutes of Health (R01-AG044546, P01-AG003991, RF1-AG053303, NIH P50-AG05681, P01-AG026276, U24-AG21886, U24-AG026395 and U01-AG058922)

The Alzheimer Association (NIRG-11-200110, BAND-14-338165 and BFG-15-362540)

Acknowledgment statement for any data distributed by NIAGADS:

Data for this study were prepared, archived, and distributed by the National Institute on Aging Alzheimer's Disease Data Storage Site (NIAGADS) at the University of Pennsylvania (U24-AG041689), funded by the National Institute on Aging.

For investigators using The Familial Alzheimer Sequencing Project data:

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01AG044546, P01AG003991, RF1AG053303, R01AG058501, U01AG058922, RF1AG058501 and R01AG057777). The recruitment and clinical characterization of research participants at Washington University were supported by NIH P50 AG05681, P01 AG03991, and P01 AG026276. This work was supported by access to equipment made possible by the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, and the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine.

We thank the contributors who collected samples used in this study, as well as patients and their families, whose help and participation made this work possible. This work was supported by access to equipment made possible by the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, and the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine

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