Tippett Lynette J, Cawston Erin E, Morgan Catherine A, Melzer Tracy R, Brickell Kiri L, Ilse Christina, Cheung Gary, Kirk Ian J, Roberts Reece P, Govender Jane, Griner Leon, Le Heron Campbell, Buchanan Sarah, Port Waiora, Dudley Makarena, Anderson Tim J, Williams Joanna M, Cutfield Nicholas J, Dalrymple-Alford John C, Wood Phil
NZ-Dementia Prevention Research Clinic, New Zealand.
School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
J R Soc N Z. 2022 Aug 24;53(4):489-510. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2022.2098780. eCollection 2023.
Aotearoa New Zealand's population is ageing. Increasing life expectancy is accompanied by increases in prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and ageing-related disorders. The multicentre Dementia Prevention Research Clinic longitudinal study aims to improve understanding of AD and dementia in Aotearoa, in order to develop interventions that delay or prevent progression to dementia. Comprising research clinics in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, this multi-disciplinary study involves community participants who undergo biennial investigations informed by international protocols and best practice: clinical, neuropsychological, neuroimaging, lifestyle evaluations, genotyping, blood collection and processing. A key research objective is to identify a 'biomarker signature' that predicts progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD. Candidate biomarkers include: blood proteins and microRNAs, genetic, neuroimaging and neuropsychological markers, health, cultural, lifestyle, sensory and psychosocial factors. We are examining a range of mechanisms underlying the progression of AD pathology (e.g. faulty blood-brain barrier, excess parenchymal iron, vascular dysregulation). This paper will outline key aspects of the Dementia Prevention Research Clinic's research, provide an overview of data collection, and a summary of 266 participants recruited to date. The national outreach of the clinics is a strength; the heart of the Dementia Prevention Research Clinics are its people.
新西兰的人口正在老龄化。预期寿命的增加伴随着阿尔茨海默病（AD）和与衰老相关疾病患病率的上升。多中心痴呆预防研究诊所纵向研究旨在增进对新西兰AD和痴呆症的了解，以便制定干预措施来延缓或预防痴呆症的进展。这项多学科研究包括奥克兰、克赖斯特彻奇和达尼丁的研究诊所，涉及社区参与者，他们按照国际协议和最佳实践每两年接受一次调查：临床、神经心理学、神经影像学、生活方式评估、基因分型、血液采集和处理。一个关键的研究目标是确定一个能预测从轻度认知障碍进展为AD的“生物标志物特征”。候选生物标志物包括：血液蛋白质和微小RNA、遗传、神经影像学和神经心理学标志物、健康、文化、生活方式、感官和社会心理因素。我们正在研究AD病理进展背后的一系列机制（例如血脑屏障功能障碍、实质铁过量、血管调节异常）。本文将概述痴呆预防研究诊所研究的关键方面，提供数据收集概述，并总结迄今为止招募的266名参与者的情况。诊所的全国性推广是一项优势；痴呆预防研究诊所的核心是其工作人员。
