Srinivaspura Aging, Neuro Senescence and COGnition (SANSCOG) study: Study protocol.

INTRODUCTION

Prospective, population-based, aging, and cognition studies are an important approach to understand normal and pathological aging processes.

METHODS

This is a longitudinal, community-based cohort study (n = 10,000) in rural India, with long-term follow-up for comprehensive evaluation of risk and protective factors associated with cognitive changes during aging. All participants will undergo comprehensive clinical, neurocognitive, and biochemical assessments. Genotyping using genome-wide association studies will be done for all participants. Whole genome sequencing and brain imaging (magnetic resonance imaging) will be done in a subset.

RESULTS

This study will generate a rich database of clinical, neurocognitive, biochemical, neuroimaging, and genetic data that can help identify risk and protective factors for dementia and other related disorders.

DISCUSSION

This longitudinal study is first of its kind, involving comprehensive evaluations, spanning phenotype to genotype, in a rural Indian cohort, and has major public health implications.