title: Promoting research in advanced dementia: early clinical results of the Alzheimer Center Reina Sofía Foundation.
abstract: The Alzheimer Center Reina Sofía Foundation (ACRSF) was envisaged to address the complex and multi-disciplinary research and care needs posed by Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative dementias. Patients may be admitted at ACRSF either as inpatients (i.e., nursing home) or outpatients (i.e., day-care center). The research program includes clinical, social, biochemical, genetic, and magnetic resonance investigations, as well as brain donation. We present the inception of the clinical research protocol for the ACRSF, the early results, and the amendments to the protocol. Foreseen as distinct populations, inpatient and outpatient results are presented separately. Data were collected from 180 patients (153 inpatients, 27 outpatients) (86% AD), with informed consent for participation in the research program of the ACRSF. Most patients (95%) had moderate to severe dementia. Nursing home patients were older, displayed marked gait dysfunction, and were significantly more dependent in the activities of daily living (ADL), compared to the day-care patients (p < 0.05). Some cognitive, ADL, and quality of life (QoL) scales were eliminated from the protocol due to floor effect or lack of specificity of contents for advanced dementia. New measurements were added for evaluation of cognition, apathy, agitation, depression, ADL, motor function, and QoL. The final assessment is expected to be sensitive to change in all the clinical aspects of advanced degenerative dementia, to promote multidisciplinary and, desirably, inter-center collaborative research and, eventually, to contribute to the improvement of treatment and care for these patients.
authors: Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, Alzheimer Center Reina Sofia Foundation, Madrid, Spain. jolazaran@fundacioncien.es
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Olazarán
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Agüera-Ortiz
authors: Ricardo S
authors: RS
authors: Osorio
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: León-Salas
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Dobato
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Cruz-Orduña
authors: Belén
authors: B
authors: González
authors: Meritxell
authors: M
authors: Valentí
authors: Nuria
authors: N
authors: Gil-Ruiz
authors: Belén
authors: B
authors: Frades
authors: M I
authors: MI
authors: Ramos-García
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Martínez-Martín
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D013997:Time Factors