title: COBRA: A prospective multimodal imaging study of dopamine, brain structure and function, and cognition.
abstract: Cognitive decline is a characteristic feature of normal human aging. Previous work has demonstrated marked interindividual variability in onset and rate of decline. Such variability has been linked to factors such as maintenance of functional and structural brain integrity, genetics, and lifestyle. Still, few, if any, studies have combined a longitudinal design with repeated multimodal imaging and a comprehensive assessment of cognition as well as genetic and lifestyle factors. The present paper introduces the Cognition, Brain, and Aging (COBRA) study, in which cognitive performance and brain structure and function are measured in a cohort of 181 older adults aged 64 to 68 years at baseline. Participants will be followed longitudinally over a 10-year period, resulting in a total of three equally spaced measurement occasions. The measurement protocol at each occasion comprises a comprehensive set of behavioral and imaging measures. Cognitive performance is evaluated via computerized testing of working memory, episodic memory, perceptual speed, motor speed, implicit sequence learning, and vocabulary. Brain imaging is performed using positron emission tomography with [(11)C]-raclopride to assess dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used for assessment of white and gray-matter integrity and cerebrovascular perfusion, and functional MRI maps brain activation during rest and active task conditions. Lifestyle descriptives are collected, and blood samples are obtained and stored for future evaluation. Here, we present selected results from the baseline assessment along with a discussion of sample characteristics and methodological considerations that determined the design of the study. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Memory & Aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: nina.nevalainen@diagrad.umu.se.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Riklund
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Axelsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ögren
authors.affiliation: Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lövdén
authors.affiliation: Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindenberger
authors.affiliation: Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäckman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: lars.nyberg@umu.se.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nyberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Aging; Cognitive decline; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Positron emission tomography (PET); Striatum; [(11)C]-raclopride