title: Cuba's Aging and Alzheimer Longitudinal Study.
abstract: Aging and Alzheimer is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study involving 2944 adults aged ≥65 years from selected areas in Cuba's Havana and Matanzas Provinces. This door-to-door study, which began in 2003, includes periodic assessments of the cohort based on an interview; physical exam; anthropometric measurements; and diagnosis of dementia and its subtypes, other mental disorders, and other chronic non-communicable diseases and their risk factors. Information was gathered on sociodemographic characteristics; disability, dependency and frailty; use of health services; and characteristics of care and caregiver burden. The first assessment also included blood tests: complete blood count, blood glucose, kidney and liver function, lipid profile and ApoE4 genotype (a susceptibility marker). In 2007-2011, the second assessment was done of 2010 study subjects aged ≥65 years who were still alive. The study provides data on prevalence and incidence of dementia and its risk factors, and of related conditions that affect the health of older adults. It also contributes valuable experiences from field work and interactions with older adults and their families. Building on lessons learned, a third assessment to be done in 2016-2018 will incorporate a community intervention strategy to respond to diseases and conditions that predispose to dementia, frailty and dependency in older adults. KEYWORDS Dementia, Alzheimer disease, chronic disease, aging, chronic illness, frailty, dependency, cohort studies, Cuba.
authors.affiliation: Finlay-Albarrán Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Havana, Cuba. mguerra@infomed.sld.cu.
authors.forename: Juan de Jesús
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Llibre-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valhuerdi-Cepero
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: López-Medina
authors.forename: Lisseth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noriega-Fernández
authors.forename: Rutbeskia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Porto-Álvarez
authors.forename: Milagros A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Guerra-Hernández
authors.forename: Rodolfo I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Bosch-Bayard
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zayas-Llerena
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Ulloa
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Blanco
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salazar-Pérez
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Llibre-Guerra
authors.forename: Jorge J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Llibre-Guerra
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marcheco-Teruel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4