Determining the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is the goal of a new $26 million study, funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Abstract

Welcome to Public Health Moment from the University of Minnesota. Determining the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is the goal of a new $26 million study, funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study involves University of Minnesota researchers, including Alvaro Alonso, an assistant professor of epidemiology. He says it will build on the so-called ARIC study, an influential 20-year-old project that has looked at and identified risk factors for heart disease and stroke. <Alvaro: “Because we have all of this previous information on cardiovascular risk factors, it’s actually a very nice setting to determine whether cardiovascular disease might be related to the development of cognitive decline, dementia – including Alzheimer’s disease.”> Previous research has already shown a connection between cardiovascular disease and dementia, Alonso says. This study, when finalized in about three years, should lead to new preventive strategies and treatments for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. <Alvaro: “Because if we better understand the biology underlying these processes that will help us to develop new treatments. And even for people who start developing cognitive decline or dementia, our study will help to treat those people.”> With another Public Health Moment, I’m John Finnegan.