Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease
Studying biological changes in cognitively unimpaired older adults at increased risk.
ADGEN · Alzheimer’s disease genetics & prevention research
Understanding Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms begin.
A McGill/Douglas translational neuroscience program integrating biomarkers, genetics, neuroinflammation, imaging, and longitudinal cohort science to identify early mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and advance prevention.
Research mission
Mapping the earliest biological events that precede Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.
The ADGEN program studies the silent phase of Alzheimer’s disease using deeply phenotyped cohorts, CSF and plasma biomarkers, proteomics, genetics, PET/MRI imaging, cognition, and systems-level neurobiology.
Neuroinflammation
Identifying immune pathways linked to early tau pathology and synaptic vulnerability.
Tau & synaptic dysfunction
Investigating how tau-related biology contributes to synaptic damage and cognition.
Biomarker discovery
Integrating CSF, plasma, proteomics, genetic, and imaging markers.
Genetics & pharmacogenomics
Building on pioneering ApoE and pharmacogenomic discoveries.
Precision prevention
Translating molecular and imaging insight into prevention-oriented strategies.
Flagship platform
PREVENT-AD: a longitudinal window into Alzheimer’s disease before clinical onset.
PREVENT-AD focuses on cognitively unimpaired older adults at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. It combines longitudinal follow-up, biospecimens, imaging, cognition, genetics, and emerging biomarker technologies to investigate disease biology before symptoms emerge.
Learn more
Selected publications
Recent scientific output
Novel inflammatory markers predict early tau pathology and synaptic damage
ADGEN-led, PREVENT-AD/ADNI, revision submitted.
Prevalence and characterization of tau PET positivity
International collaborative tau PET study with PREVENT-AD contribution.
Plasma p-tau217 predicts cognitive impairment within a 10-year window
Longitudinal PREVENT-AD biomarker trajectory study.
Neuromodulatory nucleus integrity, white matter, tauopathy and APOE
PREVENT-AD imaging and genetic risk collaboration.
Public engagement
Media, public books, and recognitions
Interviews with major Canadian media outlets
Curated radio, television, and press interviews on Alzheimer’s disease, genetic testing, prevention, healthy aging, and the public implications of new research.
Open Media News →Lay books and public science writing
Books written for patients, families, caregivers, and the broader public, including award-winning Alzheimer’s disease guides and writing on longevity and healthy aging.
Open Public Information →Selected honours and public recognition
An archive of major distinctions, prizes, and landmark recognitions, from the Ordre national du Québec to the Prix Galien, Genesis Prize, and Hubert-Reeves literary prize.
Open Kudos →
Scientific leadership
Dr. Judes Poirier
Dr. Judes Poirier, C.Q., Ph.D., MD (Hon), is a Full Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine at McGill University and a senior scientist at the Douglas Research Centre. His work spans ApoE biology, pharmacogenomics, lipid metabolism, biomarkers, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease prevention.
About Dr. Poirier