Page 73 - Annual Report 2018

4. THE VALLECAS PROJECT

and neuroscientific epidemiological approaches is 175 volunteers were involved in this phase of the pro-
of vital importance and provides the opportunity to ject, of which:
integrate the understanding of brain health, neuro-
biology and neuropathology within the general po- • 95 people were able to participate in the
project.
pulation to support better prevention, care and cure • 80 people were unable to participate
of dementia.
because they met at least one exclusion
criterion.
The main objective of the population-based study
"Vallecas Project" for Early Detection of Alzheimer's ▄▀ 4.3. The Vallecas Project
Disease, is to elucidate, through tracking of progres-
sion, the best combination of clinical parameters Following the completion and analysis of the pilot
and complementary tests (imaging and laboratory) study the protocol was amended based on the ex-
that allow deciphering at medium- and long-term perience gained and a volunteer recruitment stra-
features that distinguish those who will develop me- tegy was established (social awareness campaign
mory impairment (MCI and dementia) from those in the media, visits to centers for seniors, contact
who will not. Thus, it intends to identify various mar- pensioner's organizations, etc.). In September 2011,
kers to determine eventually the potential risk that after the "Global Summit on Alzheimer Disease Re-
each individual could have to develop the disease search" held in Madrid and with the financial support
in the future. of the Queen Sofia Foundation.
▄▀ 4.2 Background: Pilot project The Vallecas Project is being carried out in the
Queen Sofia Foundation Alzheimer Center Research
A pilot study was conducted between June 2010 Unit by researchers from the CIEN Foundation (Car-
and February 2011, prior to the final project, whose los III Institute of Health). It aims to develop a proba-
first preliminary results are presented in this report. bilistic algorithm to identify individuals at risk for
The aims of this study were: AD-type dementia over the course of a few years.
Such an algorithm will be based on a combination
• To verify the feasibility of the working of socio-demographic, historical, clinical, neurologi-
procedure, the cooperation of the target
population and the adequacy of screening cal and neuropsychological, biological (from blood
protocols to the study objectives. tests) and neuroimaging (various forms of 3T MRI).
• To obtain early and sufficient information on
the characteristics of the recruited volunteers The participant recruitment phase for the Vallecas
and those that could not be recruited, as well project lasted from October 2011 to December
as the limitations of the actual sampling 2013. By then, 1,213 individuals of both genders,
compared to the intended one. aged 70-85 years were recruited and evaluated at
• To get experience in the implementation of
the different elements of the protocol and to baseline. Once included in the study, the project
estimate the burden of the evaluator and the conducts an annual follow-up for five years in order
evaluated. to assess the evolution profile of all participants, spe-
• To promote the Project to achieve the cifically identifying those that develop cognitive im-
participation of volunteers and attracting pairment and/or dementia. At the beginning of
enough funds to carry out the Vallecas 2018, an agreement was signed between the CIEN
Project.

CIEN Foundation Annual Report 2018 / 73