@article{5703267b60594e1d96a3467d164a44f8,
title = "The Panama aging research initiative longitudinal study",
abstract = "The Panama Aging Research Initiative is a cohort study of 423 adults aged ≥65 years recruited from an outpatient geriatric department of Panama{\textquoteright}s largest public hospital, the Social Security Fund{\textquoteright}s Dr Arnulfo Arias Madrid Hospital Complex (Complejo Hospitalario Dr Arnulfo Arias Madrid de la Caja de Seguro Social). The study provides the first reports of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of cognitive impairment and dementia, as well as various health conditions common among older adults in Panama, including chronic illnesses, polypharmacy and rates of comorbidity. The initial study, conducted September 2012–May 2016, included a clinical interview; physical assessments of body mass index and handgrip strength; and cognitive testing, plus non-fasting blood draws for measurements of genetic (Apolipoprotein E genotype) and blood-based biological markers. Information was collected regarding limitations in activities of daily living, symptoms of depression and fall incidents. A subsample of participants provided cerebrospinal fluid to measure proteins related to Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease; another subsample underwent ultrasonography and electroencephalography. This report describes the general study design and highlights lessons learned and future directions. In particular, drawing on lessons learned from this clinical research, a community-based prospective cohort study is currently under way among older adults in Panama to validate a blood-based biomarker profile for detecting mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, as well as risk factors for cognitive decline.",
keywords = "Aging, Biomarkers, Chronic disease, Cognition, Dementia, Latin America, Panama",
author = "{Panama Aging Research Initiative Group} and Villarreal, {Alcibiades E.} and P{\'e}rez-Lao, {Ambar R.} and Oviedo, {Diana C.} and Shantal Grajales and Carreira, {Maria B.} and Britton, {Gabrielle B.} and Alejandro Vernaza and Aquiles Aguilar and Aron Benzadon and Astevia Montalv{\'a}n and Baltazar Isaza and David Dondis and Elena Blake and Frank Ferro and Gabriela Carrillo-Pujol and Ivonne Torres-Atencio and Cede{\~n}o, {Jos{\'e} A.} and Josefina Fletcher and Josu{\'e} Morales and Juan Moscoso and Lavinia Wesley and G{\'o}mez, {Lee Anne} and Lineth L{\'o}pez and Luis Lee and Luis Ortiz and Luis Sotillo and Mar{\'i}a Mendieta and Nelson Novarro and Patricia Gonz{\'a}lez and Rainier Rodr{\'i}guez and Ram{\'o}n Zarak and Ribana Molino and O{\textquoteright}Bryant, {Sid E.} and Vanesa Gonz{\'a}lez and Vanessa Castillo and Viterbo Osorio and Vivian V{\'a}squez and Yina Gutierrez",
note = "Funding Information: A.E.V., M.B.C., D.O. and G.B.B. are supported by grants from the National Secretariat of Science Technology and Innovation (SENACYT) of Panama, the National System of Research (SNI), Santa Mar{\'i}a la Antigua University and the Melo Brain Research Project, respectively. Funding Information: A.E.V., M.B.C., D.O. and G.B.B. are supported by grants from the National Secretariat of Science Technology and Innovation (SENACYT) of Panama, the National System of Research (SNI), Santa Mar?a la Antigua University and the Melo Brain Research Project, respectively. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 MEDICC Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba. All rights reserved.",
year = "2019",
language = "English",
volume = "21",
pages = "54--58",
journal = "MEDICC Review",
issn = "1555-7960",
publisher = "MEDICC Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba",
number = "2-3",
}