# EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DEMENTIA IN OLDER JAPANESE AMERICANS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 1993 · $766,251

## Abstract

Literature from Japan suggests that the prevalence rate of vascular
dementia far exceeds that of Alzheimer's disease in that country.  In the
U.S., the opposite trend is observed. However, direct comparison of
prevalence rates is confounded by the lack of standardized diagnostic
criteria.  A population-based study of dementia in Japanese-Americans
over age 65 residing in King County, WA is proposed.  The project has
five main aims: (1) to establish age- and gender-specific prevalence
rates for dementia subtypes in this population, (2) to gather information
on potential risk factors for dementia, specifically for Alzheimer's
disease, (3) to follow prevalent cases longitudinally to describe disease
progression and survival in dementia subtypes, and to obtain autopsy
diagnosis on cases dying during the course of the study, (4) to develop a
cognitively intact fixed cohort, and (5) to compare our assessments of
Japanese-American elderly to parallel studies being conducted in
Honolulu, Hawaii and Japan.  The base population will be censused to
identify persons of Japanese-American origin over age 65.  A screening
instrument (CAST) will be administered to all identified persons.  A
validation study will determine the CAST cut-off score, and this score
will determine whether or not a person continues the diagnostic process
or becomes a member of the cognitively intact cohort.  Persons screening
positive will be referred to an algorithmic evaluation, which will
determine whether cognitive impairment was acquired and progressive, and
if so, whether associated with cerebrovascular disease or not.  Persons
determined to have such a dementia will be further referred to a clinical
evaluation for conventional diagnosis.  The first two phases are designed
in parallel with methods used in Honolulu, Hawaii, where the Honolulu
Heart Watch cohort is being evaluated for prevalence and incidence of
dementia.  Methods in Japan will also be standardized with those in
Honolulu. Cross-national comparison of prevalence rates of dementia
associated with cerebrovascular disease and primary degenerative dementia
will use diagnostic classifications from the algorithmic evaluation.
Clinical evaluations in the proposed study will be based on the CERAD
battery (Consortium to Establish a. Registry for Alzheimer's Disease).  A
case-control study will be conducted to examine risk factors using both
prevalent and incident cases.  Prevalent cases will be followed to study
disease progression and survival among dementia subtypes, and to obtain
neuropathologic diagnoses for cases who die during the course of the
study.  During the study period, a fixed cohort of cognitively intact
persons will bc formed and monitored bi-annually.  A renewal application
will be submitted for continued followup of the cohort, to study
incidence and risk factors associated with dementia subtypes in this
ethnic population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3121674
- **Project number:** 5R01AG009769-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HD1WMN6945W6
- **Principal Investigator:** Eric B Larson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $766,251
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-05-01 → 1996-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3121674

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3121674, EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DEMENTIA IN OLDER JAPANESE AMERICANS (5R01AG009769-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3121674. Licensed CC0.

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