1. Maelstrom Catalogue
  2. Individual Studies
  3. MARS

Minority Aging Research Study

The goal of the proposed project is to conduct an epidemiologic longitudinal study to identify risk factors for change in cognitive function in older African Americans

Overview

Acronym
MARS
Investigators
Lisa L. Barnes
Rush University Medical Center
Contacts
Annie Barz
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center
Gregory Klein
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center

General Design

Study design
Cohort
Start - End Year
2004 -
General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)

Annual follow-up

Recruitment Target
  • Individuals
Number of Participants
950
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
950
Supplementary information about number of participants

blood collected and stored on most participants, goal is for 100 brain autopsies

Access

Availability of data and biosamples

Possible Access to Data
Possible Access to Biosamples
Other
Yes
No
Not applicable
Don't know

Marker Paper

Barnes LL, Shah RC, Aggarwal NT, Bennett DA, Schneider JA. The Minority Aging Research Study: Ongoing Efforts to Obtain Brain Donation in African Americans without dementia. Current Alzheimer’s Research. 2012; 9:736-747.

PUBMED 22471868

Supplementary Information

The Minority Aging Research Study (MARS), a longitudinal clinical-pathologic study of aging and risk factors for cognitive decline, enrolls older African Americans free of dementia, and performs annual uniform, structured, clinical evaluations that include a detailed assessment of risk factors, neurological examination, donation of a blood sample for genetic testing, and comprehensive neuropsychological testing. To be eligible, potential participants have to be 65 years or older, no prior diagnosis of dementia, not taking medications typically prescribed for Alzheimer’s disease, and selfidentify as African Americans using questions from the 1990 U.S. Census. The specific question is: With which group do you most closely identify yourself? White; Black, Negro, African-American; Native American, Indian; Eskimo; Aleut; Asian or Pacific Island. They are then asked whether they are of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin (yes/no). The study is funded by the National Institute on Aging and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Rush University Medical Center.

Data/Bio-specimen Access: To apply for access to RADC data/tissue, please enter an electronic request at our website: https://www.radc.rush.edu/res/ext/home.htm.

Timeline

Populations

MARS

African American participants 65 and older. Participants must be 65 years or older, no prior diagnosis of dementia, not taking medications typically prescribed for Alzheimer’s disease, and self identify as African Americans using questions from the 1990 U.S. Census

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
65
Countries
  • United States of America
Territory

Chicagoland area

Ethnic Origin
  • African American
Health Status
  • Not demented at baseline

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Volunteer enrolment

Sample Size

Number of Participants
650
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
650

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 MARS - Baseline
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
2004 2013
1 MARS - Annual Follow-up visit
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Other : Brain, spinal cord, muscle, and nerve tissue upon autopsy.
2005 2013
UDS/MARS

African American participants 65 years and older with an informant who agree to be a part of the NACC study and who complete a supplementary battery of MARS cognitive tests and risk factor assessment.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
65
Countries
  • United States of America
Territory

Chicagoland area

Ethnic Origin
  • African American
Health Status
  • Not demented at baseline
Other Criteria

Donation of brain, spinal cord, muscle, nerve tissue upon death is not necessary for enrollment. Blood sample donation is voluntary as well.

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Volunteer enrolment

Sample Size

Number of Participants
300
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
300

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 UDS/MARS - Baseline
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
2009 (March) 2013 (December)
1 UDS/MARS - Annual Follow-up visit
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Other : Brain, spinal cord, muscle, and nerve tissue upon autopsy.
2010 (March) 2013 (December)

Participating Studies

Acronym Name Study design Countries

Harmonization Initiatives Included

Acronym Name

Datasets

Name Data Collection Events Variables

Areas of Information Collected

Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Death
Lifestyle and behaviours
Physical measures and assessments
Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
Laboratory measures
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Diseases
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Symptoms and signs
Preschool, school and work life
Medication and supplements
Social environment and relationships
Non-pharmacological interventions
Physical environment
Health and community care services utilization
Administrative information

Variables Content Summary

Areas of Information Collected
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected

Networks

Acronym Name Harmonization Initiatives Individual Studies
Last Update: 2021-05-05T09:39:17.381