Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROS/MAP)

Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROS/MAP)

Introduction

Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROS/MAP)

Introduction

The Religious Orders Study (ROS) and Memory and Aging Project (MAP) are two landmark longitudinal cohort studies of aging and cognitive decline. Conducted by researchers at Rush University, these studies have generated foundational data on the neuropathology, risk factors, and biomarkers of [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) and related dementias.

Study Design

Religious Orders Study (ROS)

The Religious Orders Study began in 1994 with:[@bennet2002]

• Participants: Catholic nuns, monks, and brothers
• Enrollment: Over 1,100 participants
• Age at enrollment: 65+ years
• Annual assessments: Comprehensive cognitive testing

Memory and Aging Project (MAP)

Launched in 1997, MAP includes:[@bennet2005]

• Participants: Community-dwelling adults
• Enrollment: Over 1,600 participants
• Age at enrollment: 55+ years
• Annual assessments: Same protocol as ROS

Unified Protocol

Both studies use identical:[@esquivel2015]

• Cognitive test batteries
• Food frequency questionnaires
• Clinical assessments
• Brain donation protocols

Data Collection

Cognitive Testing

Annual assessments include:[@wilson2013]

• Episodic memory: Word list recall, story recall
• Executive function: Trail making, digit ordering
• Semantic memory: Category fluency
• Perceptual speed: Symbol comparison
• Visuospatial ability: Visual reproduction

Clinical Assessments

• Diagnoses: NINCDS-ADRDA, NINDS AIREN criteria
• Dementia staging: Clinical Dementia Rating
• Functional assessment: Activities of daily living
• Psychiatric evaluation: Depression screening

Brain Donation

A unique strength: Nearly all participants consent to brain donation, enabling:[@schneider2022]

• Neuropathologic assessment
• Correlation with antemortem data
• Validation of biomarker studies

Major Findings

Neuropathology of AD

ROS/MAP revealed that:[@farfel2019]

• Mixed pathology is common
• [Tangles](/mechanisms/neurofibrillary-tangles) predict cognitive decline
• [Amyloid](/mechanisms/amyloid-plaques) modulates effects

Mixed Pathology

Studies demonstrate:[@arvanitakis2016]

• Co-occurrence of multiple pathologies
• [TDP-43](/mechanisms/tdp-43-proteinopathy) in aging
• Impact on clinical expression

LATE

The studies identified:[@josephs2017]

• Limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE)
• New pathologic entity
• Clinical significance

APOE Effects

APOE4 carriers show:[@dawadi2022]

• Increased amyloid accumulation
• Interaction with other pathologies
• Faster cognitive decline

Cognitive Reserve

Higher education and religious participation:[@boyle2018]

-buffers against pathology

• Slower cognitive decline
• Delayed clinical onset

Biomarkers

ROS/MAP biomarker studies:[@yu2020]

• Plasma neurofilament light chain
• CSF tau and Abeta
• Imaging biomarkers

Genetics

Genomic studies identified:[@fardo2020]

• Novel AD risk loci
• Expression quantitative trait loci
• Functional mechanisms

Cohorts and Substudies

Minority Recruitment

• Minority Aging Project (MAP-R)
• African American participants
• Comparable assessments

Clinical Subsamples

• MRI substudy
• CSF substudy
• Autopsy substudy

Impact on the Field

Standards

ROS/MAP established:[@bennet2012]

• Cognitive test batteries for aging
• Neuropathologic protocols
• Data sharing frameworks

Biomarker Validation

Studies validated:

• CSF biomarkers
• Plasma biomarkers
• Neuroimaging markers

Drug Development

Data support:

• Target validation
• Clinical trial design
• Patient stratification

Data Access

Data are publicly available:[@ros2024]

• ROS/MAP website: https://www.radcstudy.org
• National Archive: NIAGADS
• Access application: Required

Cross-Links to Related Pages

Related Diseases

• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Mild Cognitive Impairment](/diseases/mild-cognitive-impairment)
• [Frontotemporal Dementia](/diseases/frontotemporal-dementia)

Related Genes

• [APOE](/genes/apoe)

Related Mechanisms

• [Neurofibrillary Tangles](/mechanisms/neurofibrillary-tangles)
• [Amyloid Plaques](/mechanisms/amyloid-plaques)
• [TDP-43 Proteinopathy](/mechanisms/tdp-43-proteinopathy)

Related Biomarkers

• [CSF Biomarkers](/diagnostics/csf-biomarkers)
• [Amyloid Beta](/biomarkers/amyloid-beta)
• [Tau Proteins](/biomarkers/tau-proteins)

Related Datasets

• [UK Biobank](/datasets/uk-biobank)
• [ADNI](/datasets/adni)

External Links

• [ROS/MAP Official Website](https://www.radcstudy.org)
• [Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center](https://www.radcstudy.org)
• [National Institute on Aging](https://www.nia.nih.gov)

References