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The Israel Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (IRAP) Study: Design and Baseline Characteristics
Ramit Ravona-Springer1,2,3, Inbal Sharvit-Ginon1, Ithamar Ganmore1,2,3,4
1The Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|October 12, 2020
Summary
Individuals with a family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD) show poorer cognitive function and higher APOE E4 prevalence. This highlights the importance of midlife interventions for dementia prevention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a significant risk factor for dementia.
- Identifying at-risk individuals early is crucial for developing preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the design, methods, and baseline characteristics of the Israel Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (IRAP) study.
- To investigate midlife factors contributing to cognitive decline in individuals with a family history of AD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective longitudinal study of asymptomatic middle-aged individuals with (FH+) and without (FH-) a family history of AD.
- Utilized data from Maccabi Health Services, including electronic medical records, genetic information, cognitive assessments, brain imaging, and lifestyle factors.
- Collected data at baseline and every three years thereafter for 483 participants.
Main Results:
- The study included 379 FH+ and 104 FH- participants.
- FH+ individuals were younger, more likely male, and had a higher prevalence of APOE E4 allele carriers compared to FH-.
- FH+ participants performed worse in global cognition and episodic memory, even after adjusting for age, sex, and education.
Conclusions:
- The findings confirm good ascertainment of family history risk for AD.
- Combining longitudinal health data with IRAP's multifactorial data can inform midlife dementia prevention strategies.
- Midlife represents a critical window for intervention to mitigate AD neuropathology and cognitive decline.
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