Ingmar Skoog
University of Gothenburg
Sweden
The role of mental health for the onset of somatic disorders in the elderly. The influence of age, sex, birth cohort, genetic, geographical, social and neurobiological factors
Swedish Research Council
1,321,436
01.01.2013
4
Alzheimer's disease & other dementias
Aims: To study the influence of mental disorders (dementia, depression, psychosis, anxiety disorders) on the onset of somatic disorders in longitudinally followed elderly populations from different birth cohorts and geographical areas, and to study the how biological, genetic and psychosocial factors influence the relation. Methods: The studies include representative birth cohorts followed longitudinally in Gothenburg; a) H70-study comprising cohorts born 1901-02 (studied from age 70-102 years), 1905-6, 1922 and 1930 (examined from age 70-79, follow-up at age 85) and 1944 (planned in 2014); b) H85-study comprising cohorts born 1901-02 (examined from 85-102 years), 1923-24 (studied from age 85-90), and 1930 (in 2015); c) the 95+ study (populations aged 95 and over; N=950); d) Prospective Population Study of Women (1462 women followed 47 years from 1968),e) the 10/66 study f) the ESPRIT study from Montpellier. The studies include psychiatric, somatic and psychometric examinations, psychosocial factors, functional abilities, laboratory tests, CT-scan and MRI of the head, and analyses of DNA (incl GWAS) and cerebrospinal fluid. Significance: Knowledge on the role of mental disorders in the onset of somatic disorders in the elderly is scarce. The project is unique due to its sample size, representativeness, comprehensive examinations, long follow-ups, high ages, birth cohorts studied with similar methods during 40 years, and inclusion of studies from different parts of the world.