Rush University

Multiple longitudinal, epidemiologic cohort studies of aging and the risk of AD are conducted by Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center (RADC) and include Clinical Core (CLINCOR), Latino Core Study (LATC), Minority Aging Research Study (MARS), Religious Orders Study (ROS), and Memory Aging Project (MAP). Most of the participants of these cohorts are older adults aged 65 and above, encompassing a range of ethnic and demographic backgrounds. They do not have known dementia at enrollment and agree to undergo annual clinical evaluations, with optional brain donation. There were 113 AA, 45 LA, 11 Asian, 49 NHW, 1 American Indian or Alaska Native, 4 American Indian or Alaska Native donors who also identified as Hispanic, and 3 AA donors who also identified as Hispanic. Tissue samples were obtained from the anterior caudate nucleus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and the superior temporal gyrus. Informed consent and IRB approvals were obtained under the Rush University IRB. Details for each cohort are as follows:

Clinical Core (CLINCOR) studies the transition from normal aging to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to the earliest stages of dementia. Enrollment started in 1992, primarily with individuals diagnosed with dementia. Since 2008, the study has transitioned to consist of primarily AA, most without dementia, who share a common core of risk factors with the other RADC studies. The participants are from the metropolitan Chicago area and outlying suburbs.

Latino Core Study (LATC) is a cohort study of cognitive decline aiming to identify risk factors of AD in older Latinos. The participants self-identified as Latino/Hispanic, and enrollment started in 2015. Recruitment locations include churches, subsidized senior housing facilities, retirement communities, Latino/Hispanic clubs, organizations, and social service centers that cater to seniors in various Chicago neighborhoods and outlying suburbs.

Minority Aging Research Study (MARS) is a cohort study of cognitive decline and risk of AD in older AAs. The recruitment began in 2004, and brain donation in 2010. The participants were recruited from various places, including churches, senior housing facilities, retirement communities, AA clubs, organizations, fraternities and sororities, and social service centers catering to seniors in metropolitan Chicago and outlying suburbs [⁶³].

Religious Orders Study (ROS) and Memory and Aging Project (MAP) are prospective community-based studies of risk factors for cognitive decline, incident AD dementia, and other health outcomes. ROS began to recruit catholic nuns, priests, and brothers from across the United States in 1994. MAP started recruiting participants from retirement communities and subsidized senior housing facilities throughout Chicago and northeastern Illinois in 1997 [⁶⁴]. The ROSMAP participants are primarily non-Latino White, with small proportions of AA, Latino, and other racial groups.