Overview and Findings from the Rush Memory and Aging Project

David      A. Bennett; Julie      A. Schneider; Aron      S. Buchman; Lisa      L. Barnes; Patricia      A. Boyle; Robert      S. Wilson

Abstract

The Memory and Aging Project is a longitudinal, epidemiologic clinical-pathologic cohort study of common chronic conditions of aging with an emphasis on decline in cognitive and motor function and risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this manuscript, we first summarize the study design and methods. Then, we present data on: 1) the relation of motor function to cognition, disability, and death; 2) the relation of risk factors to cognitive and motor outcomes, disability and death; 3) the relation of neuropathologic indices to cognitive outcomes; 4) the relation of risk factors to neuropathologic indices; and 5) additional study findings. The findings are discussed and contextualized.

Keywords: Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive function, epidemiology, clinical-pathologic study, Catholic clergy, spinal cord, congestive heart failure