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A Comprehensive Neuropsychiatric Study of Elderly Twins: The Older Australian Twins Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Perminder S. Sachdev*
Affiliation:
Brain & Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia; Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia. p.sachdev@unsw.edu.au
Andrea Lammel
Affiliation:
Brain & Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Julian N. Trollor
Affiliation:
Brain & Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia; Intellectual Disability Mental Health, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Teresa Lee
Affiliation:
Brain & Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia; Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Margaret J. Wright
Affiliation:
Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia.
David Ames
Affiliation:
National Ageing Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Wei Wen
Affiliation:
Brain & Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia; Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Nicholas G. Martin
Affiliation:
Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia.
Henry Brodaty
Affiliation:
Brain & Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia; Primary Dementia Collaboration Centre, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia; Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Peter R. Schofield
Affiliation:
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia.
*
*Address for correspondence: Prof. P. Sachdev, NPI, Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia.

Abstract

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The Older Australian Twins Study (OATS) was recently initiated to investigate genetic and environmental factors and their associations and interactions in healthy brain ageing and ageing-related neurocognitive disorders. The study extends the classic MZ-DZ design to include one or two equivalently aged siblings for each twin pair and utilizes the rich resources of the Australian Twin Registry. The study has a number of distinguishing features including comprehensive psychiatric, neuropsychological, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuroimaging assessments, a longitudinal design and links with a brain donor program. The study measures many behavioral and environmental factors, but in particular lifetime physical and mental activity, physical and psychological trauma, loss of parent early in life, later losses and life events, early-life socioeconomic environment, alcohol and drug use, occupational exposure, and nutrition. It also includes comprehensive cardiovascular assessment, blood biochemistry, genetics and proteomics. The socio-demographic and health data on the first 172 pairs of twins participating in this study are presented. Prevalence of mild cognitive impairment is 12.8% and of dementia 1.5% in the sample. The target sample size is 1000, with at least 400 pairs of twins aged 65–90 years. The cohort will be assessed every two years, with in-depth assessments being repeated. OATS offers an excellent opportunity for collaboration with other similar studies as well as researchers who share the same interests.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009