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Our research is accomplished through studies with multiple purposes but usually
with more defined primary purposes. These are eight of our major ongoing
studies. So, for example the focuses of the WHAS are on physical disability and
the diseases associated with this process. This is a study of about a 1000 women
living in the community but identified as being disabled. Follow-up occurred
with examinations at regular intervals over a three period and then further
follow-up in order to identify outcomes, such as nursing home admissions.
Obviously, disease occurrence contributes to understanding the course and causes
of physical disability. There is a similar focus for Health ABC, but as you will
see the emphasis is on those without pre-existing disability and more detailed
physiological measurements in this case. Another example is the HAAS. This is a
study targeted at dementia in about 4000 Japanese-American men who were seen
first as part of heart-related studies in the mid l960's. However, now we have
been able to add not only cognitive screening but genetic markers, magnetic
resonance imaging on a subset and an active autopsy program. Also, because of
there being a number of families represented in the HAAS cohort and a high
frequency of glucose dysregulation we have been able to initiate a study of
genetics of diabetes in this population. So, the broader targets are translated
into specific studies.
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