title: Health and aging in elderly farmers: the AMI cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The health of the agricultural population has been previously explored, particularly in relation to the farming exposures and among professionally active individuals. However, few studies specifically focused on health and aging among elders retired from agriculture. Yet, this population faces the long-term effects of occupational exposures and multiple difficulties related to living and aging in rural area (limited access to shops, services, and practitioners). However, these difficulties may be counter-balanced by advantages related to healthier lifestyle, richer social support and better living environment. The general aim of the AMI cohort was to study health and aging in elderly farmers living in rural area through a multidisciplinary approach, with a main focus on dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study initially included 1 002 participants, randomly selected from the Farmer Health Insurance rolls. Selection criteria were: being 65 years and older; living in rural area in Gironde (South-Western France); being retired from agriculture after at least 20 years of activity and being affiliated to the Health Insurance under own name. The study started in 2007, with two follow-up visits over 5 years. Baseline visits were conducted at home by a neuropsychologist then by a geriatrician for all cases suspected of dementia, Parkinson's disease and depression (to confirm the diagnosis), and by a nurse for others. A large panel of data were collected through standardised questionnaires: complete neuropsychological assessment, material and social living environment, psychological transition to retirement, lifestyle (smoking, alcohol and diet), medications, disability in daily living, sensory impairments and some clinical measures (blood pressure, depression symptomatology, anxiety, visual test, anthropometry...). A blood sampling was performed with biological measurements and constitution of a biological bank, including DNA. Brain MRI were also performed on 316 of the participants. Finally, the three-year data on health-related reimbursements were extracted from the Health System database (medications, medical and paramedical consultations, biological examinations and medical devices), and the registered Long-Term Diseases (30 chronic diseases 100% covered by the Insurance System).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMI is the first French longitudinal study on health and aging set up in a population of elderly farmers living in rural area through a multidisciplinary approach.
authors: INSERM, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidémiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux F-33000, France. Karine.Peres@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr
authors: Karine
authors: K
authors: Pérès
authors: Fanny
authors: F
authors: Matharan
authors: Michèle
authors: M
authors: Allard
authors: Hélène
authors: H
authors: Amieva
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Baldi
authors: Pascale
authors: P
authors: Barberger-Gateau
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Bergua
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Bourdel-Marchasson
authors: Cécile
authors: C
authors: Delcourt
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Foubert-Samier
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Fourrier-Réglat
authors: Maryse
authors: M
authors: Gaimard
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Laberon
authors: Cécilia
authors: C
authors: Maubaret
authors: Virginie
authors: V
authors: Postal
authors: Chantal
authors: C
authors: Chantal
authors: Muriel
authors: M
authors: Rainfray
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Rascle
authors: Jean-François
authors: JF
authors: Dartigues
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000383:Agriculture; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D058025:Interdisciplinary Studies; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*