Deep Cervical Lymphatic Venous Anastomosis in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (CLEAN-AD Registry)

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder affecting the elderly population. Global health data estimates that there are 50 million AD patients worldwide, and this number may triple to 150 million cases by 2050. Anti-amyloid β (Aβ) monoclonal antibodies have emerged as disease-modifying therapies for preclinical or mild AD, but the majority of candidate agents have failed to demonstrate clinical efficacy. A series of case studies has suggested the efficacy of deep cervical lymphatic venous anastomosis (DC-LVA) in AD patients, however, there is currently a lack of large-sample cohort study in the real-world.

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of deep cervical lymphatic venous anastomosis (DC-LVA) in improve the cognitive function of AD patients at 12 months, and to identify subgroups asscociated with the treatment outcome.

This cohort is a multicenter, prospective, registry. A total of 814 patients received DC-LVA treatment in 40 centers from China will be enrolled. Face to face interviews will be made at baseline, 7 days (or hospital discharge), 3 months ± 7 days, 6months ± 15 days, 12 month ± 15 days, 18 month ± 15 days, and 24 month ±15 days.

The change of clinical dementia rating-sum of boxes (CDR-SB) score, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score, Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) score, Caregiver Burden (ZCI-AD) score, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, AD Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog13) score at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 months, and the change of brain amyloid burden evaluated by Aβ PET-CT centiloid value at 12 months will be measured.

The changes of CDR-SB score will be analyzed using a repeated measures mixed-effects model. Least squares means will be used to estimate the levels at each time point, and the mean difference with 95% confidence intervals will be calculated. Safety outcomes will be summarized using counts/percentages. Adverse events and serious adverse events will be summarized.

In exploratory outcome measures, we will analyse the AD associated biomarkers in lymphatic tissue during the surgery, the change of fluid biomarkers (peripheral blood, saliva, urine,and cerebrospinal fluid AD associated biomarkers), the change of MRI brain volumes (total brain volume, hippocampal volume, lateral ventricle volume), the change of glymphatic function index(DTI-ALPS), the change of MRS metabolic markers (N-Acetylaspartate, Creatine, Choline, Lactate, Glutamate and Glutamine, myo-Inositol), and the change of artificial intelligence-assisted oculomotor/gait measurements during 12 months of follow-up.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years, male or famale.
• Diagnosed with AD according to the NIA-AA criteria.
• Patients who have received DC-LVA treatment;
• Signed informed consent (by the subject or their relative, and caregiver)

Exclusion criteria

• Severe neurological deficits in limb movement, language, vision, hearing, or consciousness, or any condition that the investigator determines may prevent the completion of cognitive function assessments.
• The subject lacks a stable and reliable caregiver to accompany with them during entire study follow-up visits.