Specifically, we propose to apply a longitudinal factor analysis model to a
variety of neuropsychological tests and estimate a smooth cognitive trajectory.
 
   Lead Investigator:    Yorghos Tripodis
   Institution      :    Boston University
   E-Mail           :    yorghos@bu.edu
   Proposal ID      :    353


   Publications:


1  Tripodis Y, Zirogiannis N
   Predicting the cognitive status of an aging population
   Abstract  Alzheimers Dement,10:P722,2014,

   PUBLISHED



2  Tripodis Y, Zirogiannisz N
   Dynamic Factor Analysis for Multivariate Time Series: An application to cognitive trajectories
   2015   Journal Article  Int J Clin Biostat Biom   1   ,PMC4704801

   PUBLISHED





   Proposal Description:
   Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a significant cause of disability   and mortality among the elderly. The latest figures show that 5.2 million people in the US,   approximately 14 of the population over age 70, are afflicted by AD. As the population ages   over the next several decades, this number is expected to increase. The only definitive way to   diagnose AD is post-mortem, but neuro-psychiatrists reach a pre-mortem diagnosis by reviewing   and discussing the subject's clinical history, as well as scores from a variety of neuropsychological   evaluation tests.The results of the neuropsychological tests can exhibit high within-subject   variability and make consensus diagnosis difficult. Statistical tools have been developed to extract   information from these evaluation tests in order to estimate a single or multiple cognitive indices.   These tools ignore the repeated nature of the tests. This junior investigator grant will provide a   better understanding of the longitudinal properties of cognitive trajectories in the normal and   prodromal phase. Specifically, we propose to apply a longitudinal factor analysis model to a   variety of neuropsychological tests and estimate a smooth cognitive trajectory. The primary goal   of this project is to use clinical data collected by the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center   (NACC) to describe and predict the cognitive status of a person with normal cognition or with mild   cognitive impairment (MCI) based on this estimated cognitive trajectory. Results of this research   will contribute to the literature by improving and facilitating a more timely and accurate diagnosis   of AD.