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ARAC - The Montreal Jewish General Hospital Alzheimer Risk Assessment Clinic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Hyman M. Schipper ,
Adrienne Liberman ,
Nora Kelner ,
Lennie Babins ,
Lynda Fried ,
Melanie Bilbul  and
Rachel Goodman
Hyman M. Schipper*
Affiliation:
Centre for Neurotranslational Research, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Adrienne Liberman
Affiliation:
Centre for Neurotranslational Research, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Nora Kelner
Affiliation:
Centre for Neurotranslational Research, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Lennie Babins
Affiliation:
Centre for Neurotranslational Research, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Lynda Fried
Affiliation:
Centre for Neurotranslational Research, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Melanie Bilbul
Affiliation:
Centre for Neurotranslational Research, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Rachel Goodman
Affiliation:
Centre for Neurotranslational Research, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
*
Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Cote St. Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada
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Abstract:

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Introduction:

In parallel with robust efforts world-wide to develop effective neuroprotection for established disease, resources are being mobilized to delineate risk factors and implement preventive measures in a concerted effort to forestall the anticipated Alzheimer disease (AD) epidemic. A review of heritable and ‘acquired’ dementia risk factors, many operating at midlife, is presented in a companion paper.

Objectives:

In 2009, an Alzheimer Risk Assessment Clinic (ARAC) was established at the Jewish General Hospital (Montreal) to address the concerns increasingly being voiced by active middle-aged individuals at risk for AD. A positive family history of AD and/or perceived changes in personal cognitive function (predominantly short-term memory) are main reasons for referral. The primary objectives of ARAC are to (i) ascertain, inform and mitigate the risks of developing AD in cognitively-healthy persons aged 40-65 based on best available medical and epidemiological evidence, (ii) conduct scientific research on midlife dementia risk and prevention in this population and (iii) provide instruction in dementia risk assessment and management to health professionals, clinical/research fellows, medical residents and students. ARAC infrastructure, evaluation protocol, risk profile classification scheme, interventions, knowledge dissemination program, case vignettes, and seminal research projects are described.

Conclusions:

It is hoped that ARAC and similar initiatives will help prevent or delay dementia by innovating effective interventions based on increasingly nuanced estimation of modifiable AD risk in presymptomatic persons.

Type
Original Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 38 , Issue 4 , July 2011 , pp. 600 - 611
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2011

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