THE CENTERPIECE: A Shared Clinical Database for Alzheimer's Research

The Consortium's data coordinating system is a unique resource for Texas - providing a large, common, standardized database to facilitate collaborative studies of Alzheimer’s disease among four of the state's leading medical institutions. The database consists of two major components:

• The Minimum Data Set (MDS) includes cross-sectional clinical and demographic data on more than 2,000 subjects recruited at Consortium member sites between January 2001 and April 2010 and

• The Longitudinal Data Set (LDS) integrates with the MDS and consists of expanded clinical data collected annually across all Consortium member sites following standardized protocols. Over 1500 active participants are enrolled in the LDS Data Set, including over 500 Hispanic individuals.

The LDS data will support projects designed to identify genetic factors and biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Biomarkers are molecular, biological, or physical characteristics that can indicate a specific, underlying physiologic state or disease.

Analysis of the LDS will enable TARCC investigators to model changes in cognitive function over time, enabling identification of factors that affect not only risk, but disease progression. The inclusion of individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will facilitate these efforts as well as increase the scientific value of the data derived. The longitudinal and multi-institutional nature of the Consortium’s study design makes it unique among Alzheimer’s disease research efforts.

Number of Subjects by Diagnosis & Visit Number as of December 2011