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AlzRisk Paper Detail
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Reference: Shah, 2006
Cohort: Religious Orders Study
Risk Factor: Blood Pressure


Average Follow-up Time Detail
Participants were recruited for baseline assessment between January 1994 and August 2003. Non-demented participants were invited to complete annual clinical evaluations for up to 10 years. Among survivors, 98% of possible clinical examinations were completed for an average of 6.5 annual clinical evaluations per participant.

Exposure Detail
"Blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer by trained research assistants using the Hypertension Detection and Follow-Up Program protocol26 as previously reported27. Two consecutive readings were taken on the right arm of seated participants with the arm resting at heart level followed by a standing reading after 1 min....Finally, we created a dichotomous variable for postural hypotension, defined by a 20-mmHg decrease in the mean of the two sitting systolic readings in relation to the standing reading or a 10-mmHg decrease in the mean of the two sitting diastolic readings in relation to the standing diastolic reading."

Ethnicity Detail
For their analyses, investigators aggregated all non-white cohort members into a single group (“other”).

Screening and Diagnosis Detail
AD Diagnosis:
NINCDS ADRDA National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association Criteria (McKhann 1984)

Physicians evaluated participants in person for AD and other neurologic disorders.

"The diagnosis of dementia and AD followed the recommendations of the joint working group of the National Institute of Neurologic and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association10. In order to meet criteria for AD, a meaningful decline in cognitive function from a previous level of performance and impairment in at least two cognitive domains with one being memory had to be present."

Covariates & Analysis Detail
Analysis Type:
Cox proportional hazards regression

"Those individuals who never developed AD were considered to be censored as of their last evaluation."

AD Covariates:
Aage
Eeducation
Ggender