# DEMENTIA IN SWEDISH TWINS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 1990 · $482,509

## Abstract

The establishment of the Swedish Registry of Dementia in Twins, a
unique resource, is proposed.  The project has a dual purpose: (1)
to carry out a study of genetic and environmental factors in the
etiology and expression of demential of the Alzheimer's type (DAT)
and other dementing illnesses in a defined population subsample,
the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging, and 2) to refine methods
of case ascertainment in preparation for expanding the study to the
larger Swedish twin register.  An estimated 80 living cases will
be identified and worked up.  Procedures will include psychological
measures, medical evaluation, neuroimaging, and collateral
interview encompassing family history and risk factors.  Using
register linkage and collateral interviews, an estimated 110
deceased probands will be identified.  Co-twins of living and
deceased probands will receive the same assessments as the living
cases.  Data analyses will answer the following questions: (1) What
is the heritability of Alzheimer's disease?  This question will be
examined by determining concordance rates for MZ and DZ twins.
Liability-threshold models will be used as well.  (2) What roles
do genes and environment play in the expression of DAT in
genetically-susceptible individuals?  Using case control methods,
what risk factors such as environmental exposures can be
identified?  (3) What is the covariation of liabilities to
different types of dementia?  Do co-twins of individuals with DAT
have a higher risk of other dementing illnesses as well as DAT?
(4) What is the relative importance of sharing the same rearing
environment for the expression of dementia?  This question will be
assessed by comparing concordances in twins reared apart and twins
reared together.  It is our intention to continue the investigation
longitudinally in order to identify new previously unaffected
cases, to chart rates of change in demented patients, and to
follow-up co-twins of demented probands in order to detect early
signs of dementia among this highly at-risk group.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120463
- **Project number:** 1R01AG008724-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** G88KLJR3KYT5
- **Principal Investigator:** Margaret Gatz
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $482,509
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1990-02-15 → 1992-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120463

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120463, DEMENTIA IN SWEDISH TWINS (1R01AG008724-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120463. Licensed CC0.

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