Before Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical symptoms appear, there is a long period when changes in the brain occur. In this long asymptomatic period or preclinical phase, studies with populations at risk of developing AD have shown cognitive differences compared to control groups without such risk. There is a need for short, sensitive, easily administered, reproducible, non-expensive and independent of socio-demographic influences tests enabling the detection of pre-symptomatic variations in memory, when the memory decline is still within a normal range. Study main hypothesis: When evaluated with high-demanding tests of memory and executive function, the cognitive performance of cognitive healthy people aged between 45 and 65 and, extensively, to a group of up to 75 years, will vary significantly depending on clinical, socio-demographic and genetic features
The purpose of Study 45-65 is to assess if: * Endogenous factors (clinical history, risk factors, genetic factors APOE4, etc…), exogenous (socio-demographic, ambient and lifestyle variables) and cognitive reserve (including bilingualism) influence cognitive performance. * New and/or updated tests translated and validated in Spanish and Catalan when needed, will provide accurate and sensitive measurements of the variability of cognitive performance in this target population, representative of the preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease. An optional visit is offered to study participants that includes: cerebral magnetic resonance, vascular ultrasound and olfactory testing.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
2,743
BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center
Barcelona, Spain
Factors influencing the cognitive performance through demanding tests of episodic memory and executive function
The following tests will be administered: Verbal episodic memory: MBT (Memory Binding Test) WAIS-IV subsets: 1 Perceptual reasoning (Visual Puzzles) 2 Logical reasoning (Matrix Reasoning) 3 Executive attention and working memory (Digit span) 4 Speed of processing (Coding) 5 Abstract verbal reasoning (Similarities) Factors to be considered: Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome APOE4 Cognitive reserve (including bilingualism) Pollution, exposure to toxics, diet
Time frame: single Visit (up to 3 hours)
Culturally adapted validation in Spanish and Catalan of the MBT and determination of normative data for the population under study.
Time frame: single visit (up to 3 hours)
Assessment of the equivalence of the in person and over the phone administration to the close relative of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR).
Time frame: single visit/telephone conversation (up to 10 min)
Genetic features of the population
APOE genotyping is being performed
Time frame: 8 months after study start
Identification of genetic determinants of neuroimaging phenotypes associated to Alzheimer's disease.
Brain MR (magnetic resonance) as well as GWAS (genome-wide association studies) are being performed
Time frame: 5 years and 8 months after study start
Assessment of the relationship between olfactory and cognitive performance
Olfaction is assessed with the Burghart Medical Technology (Wedel, Germany) kit containing 16 sniffing sticks
Time frame: 5 years and 8 months after study start
Analysis of the relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis and brain changes, cognitive performance and APOE genotype
Vascular ultrasound of femoral and carotid arteries will be performed
Time frame: 6 years and 8 months after study start
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