2012 |
Sachdev, Perminder S |
R03Activity Code Description: To provide research support specifically limited in time and amount for studies in categorical program areas. Small grants provide flexibility for initiating studies which are generally for preliminary short-term projects and are non-renewable. |
Archiving Datasets of the Brain & Aging Research Program @ University of New South Wales
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The acquisition of comprehensive datasets containing phenotypic, biological, psychological and social information is expensive and labor-intensive but is necessary for the investigation of aging and related disorders. The Brain and Ageing Research Program ('BARP', University of New South Wales, Australia) has committed substantial resources over the last decade to establish cohorts and collect rich multi-faceted longitudinal datasets on older individuals in Australia. The cohorts include community-dwelling non-demented individuals, twin pairs, centenarians/ near-centenarians and stroke survivors, and the data ranging from biochemical, genetic & medical imaging data through to detailed neuropsychological, behavioral and demographic information collected longitudinally over multiple waves. The current project proposes to re-format these extensive databases for release into the public domain so that the data can be shared openly and analyzed by researchers around the world. This will contribute to the international effort to investigate aging and age-related brain diseases. The BARP databases comprise 4 longitudinal cohort studies: 1. The Memory & Ageing Study (MAS): a study of 1000+ community-based non-demented individuals from the Eastern suburbs of Sydney (Australia) which began in 2005 and collects information from its participants on an annual basis, with detailed assessments every two years, including neuroimaging, genetics and proteomics. Its primary aim is to determine the risk and protective factors in relation to cognitive decline in aging and dementia (n = 1000+; 2000+ variables per assessment). 2. The Older Australian Twins Study (OATS): a study of 300+ Australian monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs which began in 2007 and collects information on an annual basis. It aims to determine the relative impact of genetics vs. environmental factors in relation to both cognitive decline and healthy aging (n = 600; 2000+ variables per assessment). 3. The Sydney Centenarian Study (SCS): a study of individuals aged 95+ years of age which began in 2008 and collects information from its participants on a 6 monthly basis (max. 3 assessments). It aims to compare cognitive decline and healthy aging in relation to exceptional longevity, as well as investigating the so-called 'super healthy' human phenotype described by compression-of-morbidity theories (n = 250+; 1000+ variables per assessment). 4. The Sydney Stroke Study (SSS): a study of stroke patients and healthy controls assessed 3-6 months after the stroke then 1, 3 and 5 years later (n = 200 stroke; 100 controls; 1000+ variables per assessment). All 4 studies collected data on cognitive phenotypes (e.g. dementia/MCI+subtypes/healthy), neurocognitive assessment, psychosocial questionnaires, medical history + exam, medication use, neuroimaging, blood chemistry, proteomics and genetics/genomics (no proteomics or genetics for SSS). All studies collect data longitudinally and thus the BARP databases represent a truly rich and valuable potential data source for researchers worldwide. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The investigation of aging and age-related neuropsychiatric disorders is dependent upon the availability of well-characterized cohorts of aging individuals who have been assessed longitudinally. The Brain and Ageing Research Program at the University of New South Wales has established a number of longitudinal cohorts with extensive documentation. This proposal will see the public release of four longitudinal databases containing data (up to 2000+ variables per dataset) on over 2000 elderly individuals ranging from the healthy to those with dementia, and inclusive of four cohorts: community dwelling elderly (aged 70-90 years), elderly twins (aged >65 years), centenarians/ near-centenarians and stroke sufferers. The data include neuropsychiatric and medical assessments, neuroimaging, genetics and proteomics, and these cohorts will therefore provide a unique international resource for the investigation of ageing and associated disorders by researchers world-wide.
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2017 — 2020 |
Sachdev, Perminder S |
RF1Activity Code Description: To support a discrete, specific, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing specific interest and competencies based on the mission of the agency, using standard peer review criteria. This is the multi-year funded equivalent of the R01 but can be used also for multi-year funding of other research project grants such as R03, R21 as appropriate. |
Cosmic: An International Consortium to Identify Risk and Protective Factors and Biomarkers of Cognitive Ageing and Dementia in Diverse Ethno-Racial Groups and Geographical Settings @ University of New South Wales
Project Summary/Abstract The best approach to identify risk and protective factors, and develop early biomarkers, of cognitive decline and dementia in older people is to conduct prospective longitudinal studies of aging in representative cohorts from the population. Many such studies are being conducted around the world. For practical reasons, no single study can have a large enough sample and sufficient power to detect modest-sized effects, or to compare rates, proportions, and antecedents in a large variety of populations. Further, these studies have used disparate methodologies, and even small variations in methodology make results difficult to compare across populations. This grant proposal is to support a consortium ? COSMIC (COhort Studies of Memory in International Consortium) ? that was established in 2012 and now includes 26 studies from 16 countries in five continents, with a combined sample size of >70,000. The leaders of these studies have agreed to pool de- identified data from these studies. The data harmonization strategy in COSMIC offers the potential to explore both existing and novel research questions by creating a single, large database to help minimize the influence of both study-level (e.g. methodology) and individual level (e.g. demographic) factors, while also enabling these to be explored as potential contributors to differences in results . Other advantages include increased statistical power for detecting effects of modest size, and the inherent replication and enhanced generalizability associated with using heterogeneous samples and methodologies. COSMIC will address many extant questions in the analytical epidemiology of cognitive aging and dementia. It will help examine the rates and patterns of cognitive decline in aging populations in diverse geographical regions and ethno-racial groups, and determine the prevalence and incidence of neurocognitive disorders in these settings. It will inform us which risk and protective factors are universal and others that are specific to certain populations. Novel factors may thereby be identified. Biomarkers of dementia can similarly be examined. The cohorts will permit the examination of decline in individuals who have been diagnosed with dementia, and the burden these disorders pose on the health care systems in different countries. COSMIC is a truly international effort. The rules of engagement have been established and the success of the first two projects has demonstrated its feasibility. This grant proposal is to help ensures its financial viability as it continues to grow to make a lasting impact on the epidemiology of cognitive aging and dementia.
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