Ranveig Sakshaug Eldholm
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Norway
Cardiovascular Health and Progression of Alzheimerr´s disease (VAS-PAD)
Norwegian ExtraFoundation for Health and Rehabilitation
205,000
20/08/2012
4
Alzheimers disease (AD) is a progressive disorder that affects a large proportion of the ageing population. The disease course varies considerably between individuals. However, there is limited evidence on the factors of importance for prognosis. The aim of the Progression of Alzheimers Disease and Resource use (PADR) study is to examine how the disease progression in Alzheimers disease is influenced by concomitant cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors, depression, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, inflammation and drug use.
The PADR study is a longitudinal observational study that was conducted in three Norwegian memory clinics between 2012 and 2015. The study followed up 357 patients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment with broad assessments at mean 24 (16-37) months after their initial assessments in the memory clinics. Of these, 282 patients had AD; 177 patients with dementia in AD and 105 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). The primary endpoint of the study is progression rate measured by change in the Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR) Sum of Boxes score (CDR-SB).
The study examines how having cardiovascular diseases and/or cardiovascular risk factors at the time of diagnosis of cognitive impairment or dementia influences further disease progression. The study also analyses what effect vascular diseases in the brain, as seen on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging at the time of diagnosis, have on the progression of cognitive impairment or dementia.