title: The Nutrition, Aging, and Memory in Elders (NAME) study: design and methods for a study of micronutrients and cognitive function in a homebound elderly population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micronutrient status can affect cognitive function in the elderly; however, there is much to learn about the precise effects. Understanding mediating factors by which micronutrient status affects cognitive function would contribute to elders' quality of life and their ability to remain in the home.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Nutrition, Aging, and Memory in Elders (NAME) Study is designed to advance the current level of knowledge by investigating potential mediating factors by which micronutrient status contributes to cognitive impairment and central nervous system abnormalities in the elderly. NAME targets homebound elders because they are understudied and particularly at risk for poor nutritional status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects are community-based elders aged 60 and older, recruited through area Aging Services Access Points. The NAME core data include demographics; neuropsychological testing and activities of daily living measures; food frequency, health and behavioral questionnaires; anthropometrics; gene status; plasma micronutrients, homocysteine, and other blood determinants. A neurological examination, psychiatric examination, and brain MRI and volumetric measurements are obtained from a sub-sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preliminary data from first 300 subjects are reported. These data show that the NAME protocol is feasible and that the enrolled subjects are racially diverse, at-risk, and had similar basic demographics to the population from which they were drawn.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The goal of the NAME study is to evaluate novel relationships between nutritional factors and cognitive impairment. These data may provide important information on potential new therapeutic strategies and supplementation standards for the elderly to maintain cognitive function and potentially reduce the public health costs of dementia.
authors.affiliation: Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. tscott@tufts-nemc.org
authors.forename: Tammy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bergethon
authors.forename: Rafeeque
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhadelia
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buell
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dashe
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hibberd
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leins
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ordovas
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patz
authors.forename: Lori Lyn
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Wei Qiao
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarnak
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selhub
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smaldone
authors.forename: Carey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Marshal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Folstein
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients