Page 68 - MaquetaFundCIEN-2019-ENG

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Annual Report 2019
Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood of all participants who have signed informed consent to it and the APOE gene, an important marker of genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease, was analyzed. The comparison of the frequency of APOE al- lele ε4 carriers between CAFRS patients and Vallecas Project volunteers confirms the risk to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease with an OR = 3.53 (p <0.001). In addition, in order to define different subpopulations of genetic risk, other possible genetic susceptibility genes have also been analyzed in a subset of participants (see be- low).
Distribution of genotypes of APOE gene in the population of volunteers from the Vallecas Project.
APOE GENOTYPES
N
e2/e2
5
e2/e3
118
e2/e4
10
e3/e3
848
e3/e4
195
e4/e4
12
It is also important to emphasize that the samples obtained from Vallecas Project volunteers aged between 70 and 85 years (at the baseline evaluation) that include a comprehensive assessment of cognitive, sociological and neuroimaging state are optimal for its use as a control population in various projects related to neuro- degenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease. The monitoring for a period of 5 years will allow us to detect early, even before clinical symptoms manifesta- tion, susceptibility factors and biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Queen Sofia Foundation Alzheimer Center Research Program
The Queen Sofia Foundation Alzheimer Center Research Program, focuses on reg- ular and protocol-based monitoring of a cohort of CAFRS patients with dementia, ether as residents at the Center or attendants at the Day Center, with the main objective of investigating the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease. A family mem- ber or guardian recruits patients into the monitoring program after signing an In- formed Consent. The Alzheimer Project program consists of i) a biannual clinical and neuropsychological assessment by the Multidisciplinary Support Unit (UMA. for its acronym in Spanish), ii) a biannual blood sampling, coincident with the usu- al one taken at the residence, iii) conducting an annual cranial MRI if the patient’s condition allows it, and iv) donation of brain tissue after patient’s death.
The CAFRS takes care of 156 patients in residence, and 40 patients in the Day Cen- tre. The Alzheimer project-monitoring program includes obtaining a blood sample biannually coinciding with the one routinely performed at the Center for conven-