CASCADE: A European collaborative study on vascular determinants of brain lesions - Study design and objectives

Dementia is a highly prevalent disease that may have a cardiovascular compo nent. White matter lesions and brain atrophy (brain abnormalities) are prev alent in dementia cases and might form part of the anatomical basis for the disease. We designed a multi-centre study, CASCADE (Cardiovascular Determi nants of Dementia), to examine long-term (10-20 years) and short-term (5 ye ars) cardiovascular risk facto rs for, a nd the cognitive consequence of, b rain abnormalities. White matter lesions and atrophy are measured with magn etic resonance imaging. Cognitive function is measured with nine tests of m emory and executive function. The studies included in CASCADE were ongoing and geographically spread throughout Europe to capture the cardiovascular r isk gradient. In each study, a random sample of at least 100 subjects aged 65-75 years was selected who participated in the previous research examinat ions conducted by the respective centres. The objectives and design of the CASCADE project are described. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.