Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Sharing clinical research data is essential for advancing Alzheimer's disease (AD) research, yet challenges in accessibility, standardization, documentation, usability, and reproducibility persist. METHODS: We developed R data packages to streamline access to curated datasets from key AD studies. A4LEARN includes data from the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's (A4) randomized trial and its companion observational study, the Longitudinal Evaluation of Amyloid Risk and Neurodegeneration (LEARN). ADNIMERGE2 contains curated data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), a longitudinal biomarker and imaging study. RESULTS: These packages bundle data, documentation, and reproducible analysis vignettes into portable, analysis-ready formats that can be installed and used within R. We also introduce the alzverse package, which applies a common data standard to integrate study-specific packages and facilitate meta-analyses. DISCUSSION: By promoting collaboration, transparency, and reproducibility, R data packages provide a scalable framework to accelerate AD clinical research. HIGHLIGHTS: R packages enable access to curated Alzheimer's clinical study datasets. A4LEARN and ADNIMERGE2 provide portable, analysis-ready data resources. R packages integrate data, documentation, and reproducible analysis vignettes. alzverse unifies study packages via common standards to support meta-analyses. Tools promote transparency, collaboration, and reproducibility in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research.
Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia
DOI: 10.1002/alz.71152
Institution: University of Southern California
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,200
Funders: Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer, Merck, Biogen, AbbVie, Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, BioClinica, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Foundation for Neurologic Diseases, Northern California Institute for Research and Education, Fujirebio US, GHR Foundation, Servier, H. Lundbeck A/S, National Institutes of Health, Genentech, GE Healthcare, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Awards: G9000055340, G9000121865
OpenAlex ID: W7126215403