Precision Medicine Pilot Study for Alzheimer’s Disease Shows Cognitive Improvement in 80% of Patients

Burlingame, Calif. — July 6, 2022 — A pilot clinical trial using a precision medicine approach to Alzheimer’s disease has delivered groundbreaking results: over 80% of patients improved cognitive scores across multiple measures, according to findings published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (Volume 88, Issue 4).

Unlike past drug trials that largely failed to halt decline, this study applied personalized, root-cause–based interventions. The results showed not only measurable cognitive gains, but also MRI-documented improvements in brain volume, offering a promising new direction for Alzheimer’s care.

Study Overview

• Patient group: 25 participants aged 50–76 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early dementia.
• Treatment length: 9 months.
• Approach: Physicians analyzed individual contributors to decline—including inflammation, nutrient and hormone deficiencies, metabolic dysfunction, sleep apnea, vascular issues, pathogens, and toxins—and tailored therapies accordingly.
• Results:
  • Cognitive improvement in >80% of patients (neurocognitive testing, brain training, partner-assessed symptoms).
  • MRI volumetry confirmed increased grey matter volume (+0.3%) compared to expected decline (–2.2% per year).
  • Hippocampal atrophy slowed by 63%, a major breakthrough in Alzheimer’s treatment.

Expert Perspectives

“This is the first trial to show actual improvement in multiple domains of functioning, as well as MRI brain scans,” said Dr. Kat Toups, Principal Investigator at the Functional Medicine Psychiatry and Dementia Clinic. “In past drug trials, success meant only slowing decline. Here, patients regained function.”

Senior author Prof. Dale Bredesen added:

“The future of medicine for complex chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s lies not in single-drug treatments, but in larger data sets and precision medicine protocols. This pilot proves that targeting root causes works.”

Role of Digital Health and MRI Volumetry

The trial incorporated advanced digital and imaging tools:

• Neuroreader® volumetric software (Brainreader, Inc.) and CorTechs for MRI brain volume measurements.
• CNS Vital Signs for online cognitive testing.
• Posit Science for brain training.
• ReCODE Protocol, developed by Apollo Health in collaboration with Dr. Bredesen, to guide evaluation and treatment.

MRI volumetry was critical in quantifying structural brain changes, highlighting the importance of AI-enabled imaging tools in Alzheimer’s diagnostics and monitoring.

Clinical Significance

• Shows precision medicine can reverse cognitive decline in early Alzheimer’s and MCI.
• Suggests that treating individualized root causes is more effective than single-drug therapies.
• Paves the way for a larger randomized controlled trial launching later this year in Miami, Cleveland, Nashville, Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Study Details

• Published in: Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
• DOI: 10.3233/JAD-215707
• Supported by: Four Winds Foundation
• Organized by: QuesGen (CRO)
• Clinical sites: Walnut Creek, CA (Dr. Kat Toups), Ashland, OR (Dr. Deborah Gordon), San Rafael, CA (Dr. Ann Hathaway)
• Co-authors: Henrianna Chung, Dr. Cyrus Raji, Alan Boyd, Prof. Benjamin Hill, Dr. Sharon Hausman-Cohen, Dr. Mouna Attarha, Dr. Won Jong Chwa, Michael Jarrett