PREVENT Research Programme

The PREVENT Research Programme has established a cohort of individuals to explore differences in the brain and cognitive function in healthy people in mid-life (aged 40-59). People are grouped into high, mid and low risk based on their family history and APOE status (a well-known risk gene for Alzheimer’s disease).

650 participants are assessed on biological indicators including markers in blood, saliva, urine and spinal fluid as well as direct imaging of the brain’s structure and function. Changes in all of these markers will be monitored at 2 years to work out if risks that predict these changes. One of the main aims of the study is to identify the earliest signs of changes in the brain whilst people are still in good health.

Last update – 13/12/2017

Types Neurodegenerative disease-specific cohort
Participant Types At-risk diagnosis
Countries United Kingdom
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 0 to 4,999
Ages 40 to 59
Brain related measures Behaviour|Cognitive function|Mental health|Neurological
Funtional rating Individual physiological|Individual psychological
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Hearing and Vision|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood|Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)>CSF biomarker data available|Saliva|Urine
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)|Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)
Brain banking
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Ethnic group|Housing and accommodation|Income and finances|Marital status|Occupation and employment
Health service utilisation
Institute names University of Edinburgh
Current Sample Sizes 0 to 4,999

age at recruitment 40-59
last updated
recruitment period 2014-present
estimated current sample size number value 240
cohort acronym PREVENT
start date 2014-present
pi Professor Craig Ritchie
website http://preventdementia.co.uk/
contact details Katie Wells
PREVENT Research Programme
West London Cognitive Disorders Treatment and Research Unit
Imperial College London
Lakeside Mental Health Unit
West Middlesex Hospital site
Twickenham Road
Isleworth
TW7 6FY
abstract  PREVENT is a longitudinal study aimed at exploring the differences in the brain and cognitive function in healthy people aged 40-59. Recruitment began in 2014, the estimated current sample size is 240.
funders  Alzheimer’s Society
Fidelity and Alzheimer’s Association
contact email [email protected]
contact phone number +44 (0) 20 8483 1823
estimated current sample size 0 to 4,999
sample sizes 650