Idosos Beira Interior-Guarda: biomarcadores imunológicos da cognição

The objectives of this study encompass a multifaceted approach aimed at understanding and addressing cognitive decline in the elderly population, and to validate and extend previous results from our group. The project is expected to contribute to the advancement of novel strategies for its prevention and management. The specific objectives are: 1. To recruit elderly volunteers (65 years old and above) from participating institutions (retirement homes, daycare centers, home support) from the Guarda municipality and set up the EBI-Guarda cohort that will facilitate future research activities, including future longitudinal studies (total cohort). 2. To select a subgroup cohort, after applying the exclusion criteria for this cross-sectional study (hereafter named EBI-Guardian cohort). 3. To characterize the subgroup volunteers according to a comprehensive assessment protocol (questionnaires and tests), under close supervision of qualified clinical staff 4. To define the cognitive status (non-cognitive impaired, mild cognitive impaired, cognitive impaired) of the EBI-Guardian cohort. 5. To collect and store blood samples (plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells) from the EBI-Guardian cohort for current and future use in the study of age-associated cognitive decline. 6. To define the functional phenotype of ex vivo CD8+ T cells from the EBI-Guardian cohort. 7. To characterize the CD8+ TEMRA subsets at the transcriptomic level. 8. To characterize the HLA and APOE genotypes of the EBI-Guardian cohort. 9. To characterize plasma biomarkers (sHLA-I) of the EBI-Guardian cohort. 10. To perform high-dimensional analysis (statistical and data mining) to identify novel genetic, sociodemographic, lifestyle, blood immune biomarkers, and other factors (e.g., comorbidities), for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment. 11. To foster patient and public involvement (PPI) throughout the project. 12. Promote the integration of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cycle students, reinforcing evidence-based learning and qualification of young individuals. 13. To disseminate the results and to promote knowledge about the causes of cognitive decline.