2008 Age Plus Prize Winner

Alexandra Fiocco
McGill University
Influence of genetic polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein and the butyrylcholinesterase gene on stress markers in older adults: A 3-year study

Quality of life in older adults is largely dependent on cognitive function, which, with age, varies from person to person. With an aging population on the rise, and a projected rise in dementia cases, it is becoming increasingly important to understand underlying factors that determine cognitive variability in late life in order to develop effective treatment and prevention approaches for cognitive decline.

Dr. Fiocco's paper was based on a sample of older adults followed over time (longitudinal data collection). Participants were asked to visit the research center twice a year for 3 years. During the first visit, participants remained there for 24 hours and had blood drawn every hour to measure their 24-hour glucocorticoid (a steroid hormone) levels. Also, their blood was analyzed for genetic polymorphism (i.e., variation) of two different genes. During the second visit, participants underwent cognitive testing, which included a word-pair task that assesses declarative memory (which relates to the storage of facts). Participants also completed questionnaires that tapped into mood and personality traits.

The present findings suggest that certain genetic variants and their interactions are associated with poorer cognitive function and treatment response. Eventually, such knowledge may help in the development of prevention and treatment protocols to enhance cognitive function in late life.

Dr. Fiocco's project provided her with valuable research skills and knowledge in the area of aging and genetics. She not only gained experience with both longitudinal and cross-sectional (at a single point in time) data collection and analysis, but was also given the challenge of learning about various genetic polymorphisms.

Currently in autumn 2008, Dr. Fiocco is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California San Francisco where she is learning epidemiological research methods. She is interested in healthy cognitive aging and predictors of cognitive maintenance in late life. In two years time Dr. Fiocco plans to return to Canada to work as an independent researcher in the field of aging, with the goal of aiding in the creation of prevention models for cognitive impairment in older adults.