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The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (MAS): methodology and baseline medical and neuropsychiatric characteristics of an elderly epidemiological non-demented cohort of Australians aged 70–90 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2010

Perminder S. Sachdev ,
Henry Brodaty ,
Simone Reppermund ,
Nicole A. Kochan ,
Julian N. Trollor ,
Brian Draper ,
Melissa J. Slavin ,
John Crawford ,
Kristan Kang  and
G. Anthony Broe
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Perminder S. Sachdev*
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Henry Brodaty
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Avoca Street, Randwick, NSW, Australia
Simone Reppermund
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Nicole A. Kochan
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
Julian N. Trollor
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Intellectual Disability Mental Health, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Brian Draper
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Avoca Street, Randwick, NSW, Australia
Melissa J. Slavin
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
John Crawford
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Kristan Kang
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
G. Anthony Broe
Affiliation:
Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick NSW, Australia Ageing Research Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW, Australia
Karen A. Mather
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
Ora Lux
Affiliation:
Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia South Eastern Area Laboratory Service, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Professor P. Sachdev, UNSW School of Psychiatry, NPI, Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia. Phone: +612-9382 3763; Fax: +612-9382 3774. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (Sydney MAS) was initiated in 2005 to examine the clinical characteristics and prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and related syndromes, and to determine the rate of change in cognitive function over time.

Methods: Non-demented community-dwelling individuals (N = 1037) aged 70–90 were recruited from two areas of Sydney, following a random approach to 8914 individuals on the electoral roll. They underwent detailed neuropsychiatric and medical assessments and donated a blood sample for clinical chemistry, proteomics and genomics. A knowledgeable informant was also interviewed. Structural MRI scans were performed on 554 individuals, and subgroups participated in studies of falls and balance, metabolic and inflammatory markers, functional MRI and prospective memory. The cohort is to be followed up with brief telephone reviews annually, and detailed assessments biannually.

Results: This is a generally well-functioning cohort mostly living in private homes and rating their health as being better than average, although vascular risk factors are common. Most (95.5%) participants or their informants identified a cognitive difficulty, and 43.5% had impairment on at least one neuropsychological test. MCI criteria were met by 34.8%; with19.3% qualifying for amnestic MCI, whereas 15.5% had non-amnestic MCI; 1.6% had impairment on neuropsychological test performance but no subjective complaints; and 5.8% could not be classified. The rate of MCI was 30.9% in the youngest (70–75) and 39.1% in the oldest (85–90) age bands. Rates of depression and anxiety were 7.1% and 6.9% respectively.

Conclusions: Cognitive complaints are common in the elderly, and nearly one in three meet criteria for MCI. Longitudinal follow-up of this cohort will delineate the progression of complaints and objective cognitive impairment, and the determinants of such change.

Keywords

mild cognitive impairmentcognitive functiondementiacognitive declinemagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)fMRImetabolic syndromeinflammatory markersbalancefallsdepressionanxietygeneticsproteomics
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Special Issue 8: Focus on prevention in psychogeriatrics , December 2010 , pp. 1248 - 1264
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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