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AlzRisk Cohort Detail
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Cohort: Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Website: http://www.blsa.nih.gov/about
Risk Factors: B Vitamins,
Hormone Therapy,
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs,
Nutritional Antioxidants,
Obesity,
Statin use

Introduction to the Cohort
The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) is a prospective longitudinal cohort study that began in 1958 and continues today. Over 3,100 participants were followed since the inception of the study, and currently, over 1,300 individuals are followed. Participants must be healthy individuals of at least 20 years old. Participants were recruited through the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Aging. At the inception of the study, enrollment of the study was limited to only men; enrollment of women for the study began in 1978. Currently, participants under the age of 60 are followed-up and assessed every 4 years; participants aged 60-79 years are assessed every 2 years; and participants aged 80 and older are assessed annually.

Ethnicity Breakdown
Approximately 96% of the cohort members were white.

Diagnosis & Evaluation Methods
For a detailed description, see Kawas, et al. 2000.

References
Beydoun MA, Lhotsky A, Wang Y, Forno GD, An Y, Metter EJ, Ferrucci L, O'Brien R, Zonderman AB. Association of adiposity status and changes in early to mid-adulthood with incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Am J Epidemiol. 2008;168(10):1179-1189.

Ferrucci L. The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA): A 50-Year_Long Journey and Plans for the Future. Journal of Gerontology 2008; 63A(12):1416-1419.

Gamaldo A, Resnick S, Kilada S, Troncoso J, Zonderman A, OBrien RJ. The Interaction between Stroke and Alzheimer Pathology on Dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Neurology 2006;67(8):1363–1369.

Hallfrish, J., Muller, D., Drinkwater, D., et al. Continuing Diet Trends in Men: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (1961-1987). Journal of Gerontology 1990;45(6): M186-191.

Kawas C, Gray S, Brookmeyer R, Fozard J, Zonderman A. Age-specific incidence rates of Alzheimer’s disease: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Neurlogy 2000;54(11):2072-7.

Tucker KL, Hallfrisch J, Qiao N, et al. The combination of High Fruit and Vegetable and Low Saturated Fat Intakes Is More Protective Against Mortality in Aging Men than Is Either Alone: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Journal of Nutrition 2005;135(3): 556-561.

Zonderman AB. Predicting Alzheimer’s Disease in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 2005;18(4):192-195.