Authors
- Kathryn Ellis, The University of Melbourne
- Ashley Bush, The University of Melbourne
- David Darby, The University of Melbourne
- Daniel De Fazio, The University of Melbourne
- Jonathan Foster, Edith Cowan University
- Peter Hudson, CSIRO, Parkville, Victoria
- Nicola Lautenschlager, University of Melbourne
- Nat Lenzo, Edith Cowan University
- Ralph Martins, Edith Cowan University
- Paul Maruff, University of Melbourne
- Colin Masters, University of Melbourne
- Andrew Milner, Neurosciences Australia, Parkville, Victoria
- Kevin Pike, University of Melbourne
- Christopher Rowe, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria
- Greg Savage, Macquarie University
- Cassandra Szoeke, CSIRO
- Kevin Taddei, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
- Victor Villemagne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, V
- Michael Woodward, Austin Health, Heidelberg, V
- David Ames, University of Melbourne
Document Type
Journal Article
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, healthy controls, cohort study, longitudinal study, PiB PET imaging
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Faculty
Faculty of Computing, Health and Science
School
School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science
RAS ID
8587
Abstract
Background: The Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) flagship study of aging aimed to recruit 1000 individuals aged over 60 to assist with prospective research into Alzheimer's disease (AD). This paper describes the recruitment of the cohort and gives information about the study methodology, baseline demography, diagnoses, medical comorbidities, medication use, and cognitive function of the participants. Methods: Volunteers underwent a screening interview, had comprehensive cognitive testing, gave 80 ml of blood, and completed health and lifestyle questionnaires. One quarter of the sample also underwent amyloid PET brain imaging with Pittsburgh compound B (PiB PET) and MRI brain imaging, and a subgroup of 10% had ActiGraph activity monitoring and body composition scanning. Results: A total of 1166 volunteers were recruited, 54 of whom were excluded from further study due to comorbid disorders which could affect cognition or because of withdrawal of consent. Participants with AD (211) had neuropsychological profiles which were consistent with AD, and were more impaired than participants with mild cognitive impairment (133) or healthy controls (768), who performed within expected norms for age on neuropsychological testing. PiB PET scans were performed on 287 participants, 100 had DEXA scans and 91 participated in ActiGraph monitoring. Conclusion: The participants comprising the AIBL cohort represent a group of highly motivated and well-characterized individuals who represent a unique resource for the study of AD. They will be reassessed at 18-month intervals in order to determine the predictive utility of various biomarkers, cognitive parameters and lifestyle factors as indicators of AD, and as predictors of future cognitive decline.
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of: Ellis, K., Bush, A., Darby, D., De Fazio, D., Foster, J. K., Hudson, P., Lautenschlager, N., Lenzo, N. , Martins, R. N., Maruff, P., Masters, C., Milner, A., Pike, K., Rowe, C., Savage, G., Szoeke, C., Taddei, K. , Villemagne, V., Woodward, M., Ames, D., & AIBL Research Group. (2009). The Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of aging: methodology and baseline characteristics of 1112 individuals recruited for a longitudinal study of Alzheimer's disease. International Psychogeriatrics, 21(4), 672-687. Available here
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