Agenda

6 de març de 2015

“The Alfa Study-The first step” Cross-sectional study for cognitive and genetic characterization of a 45-65 years old population” a càrrec de Nina Gramunt

Sala Charles Darwin (PRBB) a les 12:00 hores

En el marc de les sessions del Programa de neurociències, el proper divendres dia 6 de març a les 12:00 hores tindrà lloc a la sala Charles Darwin (pati interior del PRBB) la sessió que porta per títol “The Alfa Study-The first step” Cross-sectional study for cognitive and genetic characterization of a 45-65 years old population” impartida per la Dra. Nina Gramunt, investigadora del Programa de recerca clínica del Barcelonabeta Brain Research Center de la Fundació Pasqual Maragall.

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Abstract The Alfa Study – The first step

Cross-sectional study for cognitive and genetic characterization of a 45-65 years old population.

It is foreseen that Alzheimer’s disease will turn into the first worldwide Public Health issue on the next years. Before the clinical symptoms appear, it exists a long period where brain changes occur. This long asymptomatic period or preclinical phase is of great interest for the research, so it would allow knowing the developing processes in the brain before a severe and non-reversible neuronal loss happened in order to act on them.

Several cross-sectional studies performed in populations at risk of developing AD have shown that, compared to control groups without such risk, there are cognitive differences. However, there is a need of short, sensitive, easily administered, repeatable and, non-expensive tests. This kind of tests will allow the detection of pre-symptomatic memory variations when the memory decline was still in a statistically normal range. This would allow the selection of candidates for clinical trials to delay or slow down the cognitive impairment.

In this context the Pasqual Maragall Foundation has designed a cross-sectional study in a population sample (n = 2734) to characterize the cognition of people that, potentially, are in the preclinical AD age range. One of its objectives is to intend to adapt and to obtain psychometric data of new neuropsychological tools that will eventually measure early cognitive variations, as well as exploring the possible relation of certain risk factors on the cognitive performance. Moreover, blood samples are collected to go in depth into the relation among some genetic factors and the global cognitive performance and, specifically, in memory and executive function, as described in the literature. This study is part of a research infrastructure: the Alfa Study.

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