Current Projects

Alzheimer's Disease in Twins

Principal Investigator: Brenda Plassman, Duke University

Alzheimer's disease (AD) continues to be a major public health concern.  Analyses of data previously collected from members of the NAS-NRC Twin Registry have produced estimates of the base prevalence rates of AD and examined the effects of potential AD risk factors, for example, the protective effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).  Studies of the genetics of AD have been difficult to mount, however, because the disease occurs so late in life.  The NAS-NRC Twin Registry thus provides a nearly ideal opportunity to study AD, since its members now average 76 years of age.

This twins study will be done in collaboration with Dr. Brenda Plassman, Duke University, continuing years-long investigations on this topic.  The purpose of the study is to determine whether there is a genetic influence on Alzheimer's disease, a disease that occurs late in life and one that is therefore ideally studied for study using the NAS-NRC Twin Registry. 

MFUA will assist Duke University in the collection of data from members of the NAS-NRC Twin Registry.  Data will be analyzed to determine the interaction of environmental and genetic influences on the development of Alzheimer's disease.