Epidemiology
of Dementia
The Program in Epidemiology of Dementia
at Duke University Medical Center conducts research on the prevalence and
incidence of dementia, along with the genetic and non-genetic causes of
cognitive decline and dementia. Currently, there are two principle
studies in the program, the Duke Twins Study of Memory in Aging and the
Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS). The research aims
to discover new information about memory and the aging process.
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Links
and Resources
National Institute of Aging/National
Institutes of Health
Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's Disease Education &
Referral Center
American Health Assistance
Foundation
Duke University Bryan Center ADRC:
Duke Center for the Study
of Aging and Human Development
Duke University
Department of Psychiatry
University of Michigan
Institute for Social Research
University of Michigan
Health and Retirement Study
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Primary
Studies
Duke Twins Study of Memory in Aging
The Duke Twins Study of Memory in Aging conducts research on the genetic
and non-genetic causes of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease.
The research has been funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA),
a federal program dedicated to improving the health of older Americans,
and the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF), an organization that
funds scientific research on age-related diseases, educates the public
about these diseases, and provides emergency financial assistance to Alzheimer's
disease patients and their caregivers. The Duke Twins Study began
in 1989 and has primarily focused on the study of cognitive changes within
aging twin pairs. This research includes the study of twin
pairs in which one or both twins have Alzheimer’s disease.
ADAMS
The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) is sponsored by the
National Institute on Aging (NIA), a federal program dedicated to improving
the health of older Americans. Scientists from the University of
Michigan and other academic institutions nationwide are collaborating with
researchers from Duke University Medical Center to conduct the research.
The goal is to assess cognitive changes and dementia in detail in a subset
of participants in the ongoing Health Retirement Study. This data
will then be used to investigate what factors influence how memory changes
as we age. The study also investigates how memory changes affect
older Americans’ need for assistance from families and agencies.
"The ongoing Aging, Demographic, and Memory Study (ADAMS) has been
designed to assess dementia and AD among Americans, the burden on caregivers,
the economic cost of dementia to families and to society, and the burden
of dementia over the course of the illness."
Testimony by Richard J. Hodes, MD, Director, National Institute
on Aging, before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health
and Human Services, Education Hearing on Alzheimer's Disease, April 30,
2002
In the News:
Genes
and Environment Affect Alzheimer's Risk
Biology
is Not Always Destiny in Alzheimer's, Says New Twins Data
For general information, please Contact Dept: 919-682-6722
For help with website: Roberta Moore at rmoore@psych.duhs.duke.edu |
