Project: Cognitive Function, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders in the HAALSI Cohort (HAALSI Dementia Study)

This project furthers research conducted by the HAALSI team on the social and biological risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in an aging population in rural South Africa. The HAALSI Dementia Study follows a cohort of 600 participants through two additional waves of dementia diagnostic evaluation—including an enriched cognitive battery, informant interviews, and neurological examinations. Additional participants at risk for dementia are also being recruited from the parent HAALSI study, ultimately leading to a more accurate understanding of ADRD prevalence in the larger cohort. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and venous blood draws will be conducted to better characterize structural brain aging and genetic markers of ADRD in this unique population.