Cohort Profile: The Lebanon Study on Aging and HeAlth (LSAHA).

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Epidemiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) pose a significant health burden in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
• Lebanon's older adults face unique challenges due to prolonged socio-economic instability, impacting unknown ADRD risks.
• Lack of population-level data hinders understanding and addressing ADRD in the MENA region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the Lebanon Study on Aging and HeAlth (LSAHA), a prospective cohort study focused on ADRD.
• To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of ADRD in older adults in Lebanon.
• To provide crucial data for informing clinical care and policy development in Lebanon and similar regions.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study design was employed in Beirut and Zahle, Lebanon, targeting adults aged 60 years and above.
• A probability-based multi-stage sampling strategy ensured representation of diverse socio-economic and demographic groups.
• Data collection involved standardized questionnaires, cognitive tests, anthropometric measurements, interviews, and blood samples, with survey weights for analysis.

Main Results:

• The LSAHA enrolled 3,027 participants (69% response rate), with an average age of 71.7 years; 55.3% were female.
• High prevalence of chronic conditions (hypertension 57.2%, heart disease 32.4%, diabetes 32.7%) and mental health issues (depression 51.4%, anxiety 34.1%) were observed.
• Over half reported poor self-rated memory (52.1%), indicating potential cognitive decline concerns.

Conclusions:

• The successful launch of LSAHA provides essential population-level data on ADRD in Lebanon.
• Findings will inform targeted clinical interventions and public health policies for aging populations in Lebanon.
• This study serves as a model for understanding ADRD in regions with similar demographic and socio-economic profiles.