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Table 1 Arguments for and against requiring study partners in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease trials

From: Study partners should be required in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease trials

Against dyadic enrollment

In favor of dyadic enrollment

• The requirement is a barrier to enrollment

• Study partners may be necessary to ensure participant safety, assisting in overcoming distress related to biomarker disclosure

• Study partners are not needed to ensure adequate informed consent since participants are cognitively normal, autonomous decision makers

• Individuals who lack a study partner may be at greatest risk for catastrophic reaction, including suicide

• The requirement may introduce novel risks related to confidentiality/privacy

• The study partner can provide support that will mitigate stigma

• The requirement may introduce the risk of stigma to participants

• The requirement may maximize participant retention

• The requirement may optimize data integrity

• Scales to measure patient function require study partners

• Involving study partners in trials may best instruct an as yet undefined practice