You may have read that people who eat fish are less likely to get dementia or people who have diabetes may be more at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Statements like these are typically based on "observational research," which involves scientists tracking patterns in groups of people.
For very specific questions, (e.g., what type of fish is best? How much fish do I need to eat?), scientists need data from large, diverse groups of people. Such diverse data sets are available for study by scientists but, individual studies rarely have enough power to provide definitive answers. And merging different data sets—which could provide the information needed to answer specific questions—is typically very costly and, in some cases, illegal because the study participants did not consent to having their data shared.
That’s why the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) created the Consortium of Cohorts for Alzheimer's Prevention Action (CAPA), a group focused on optimizing how existing observational data is used for dementia prevention. As of October 28, 2014, 40 cohorts representing data on over 180,000 people have agreed to participate in CAPA.
Scientists in the CAPA group are committed to working together to answer key questions about Alzheimer's prevention strategies. This research initiative is a part of the ADDF's larger global strategy of supporting the most promising science around new therapeutics to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer's and related dementias. To date, the ADDF has invested more than $70 million to support over 450 research initiatives in 18 countries. To learn more about the many efforts under way to create effective therapeutics, check out our portfolio of funded projects.
Aaron Carman, PhD, was previously the Assistant Director of Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention at the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. Dr. Carman received his doctorate in microbiology and molecular genetics from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
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