The Rotterdam Scan Study: design and update up to 2012.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Neuroimaging is crucial for understanding the causes of neurological diseases in the elderly.
• The Rotterdam Scan Study, an extension of the Rotterdam Study, employs population-based neuroimaging to identify disease origins.
• Neuroimaging was integrated into the Rotterdam Study's core protocol starting in 2005, with earlier scans conducted in 1995 and 1999.

Purpose of the Study:

• To unravel the causes of neurological diseases through population-based, longitudinal neuroimaging.
• To establish the Rotterdam Scan Study as a key resource for aging and brain health research.
• To detail the methodology and preliminary findings of the Rotterdam Scan Study.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal neuroimaging (MRI) in a population-based cohort.
• Specific imaging protocols and post-processing techniques were utilized.
• Data collection occurred in distinct phases (1995, 1999, and from 2005 onwards).

Main Results:

• The study has provided significant findings regarding neurological disease etiology in the elderly.
• Detailed discussion of imaging protocols and post-processing is included.
• Key results contributing to the understanding of neurological diseases are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• The Rotterdam Scan Study is vital for advancing etiological research in elderly neurological diseases.
• Future research directions are recommended, focusing on ongoing investigations within the study.
• The study's findings offer a foundation for future neurological disease research in aging populations.