Older Australian Twins Study

Project Aims

The Older Australian Twins Study aims to find out what influences memory and thinking as we age. It investigates environmental influences such as lifetime physical and mental activity, socioeconomic environment, and nutrition. It also investigates how biological factors such as hypertension and antioxidant levels interact with genes to influence brain ageing. Since, over time, the expression of genes varies depending on different influences in the environment, by studying twins, OATS aims to determine which influences on the ageing process are genetic, which are environmental, and how the two interact.

Project Outlines and Background

OATS is a longitudinal, multi-centre study that investigates healthy brain ageing in elderly twins. Healthy ageing is characterised by low level of disability, high cognitive and functional capacity, and an active engagement in life. The most important ingredient of healthy ageing is a healthy brain, bereft of age-related diseases and dysfunction. Brain ageing and brain diseases are determined by multiple genetic factors that interact with environmental influences. Since identical twins share 100% of their genes, whereas non-identical twins share half the genetic information, detailed comparisons of these two groups has the potential to discover new genes involved in cognitive decline or resilience.

Following a pilot-study in 2006, OATS commenced in New South Wales in January 2007, in Queensland in December 2007, and in Victoria in February 2008. To date, OATS has attracted 468 twin pairs, with 585 participants assessed at baseline and 282 at the 2-year follow-up. The 4-year follow-up is due to commence in New South Wales shortly.

Participate in Our research

Identical and non-identical twin pairs, aged 65 and older, living in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria are eligible to participate in this research. With few exceptions, twin pairs can participate regardless of whether or not they are experiencing any memory or health problems. Over a period of four years, participants are asked to undergo three medical and neuropsychological assessments (the core aspect), one cardiovascular and one balance assessment, provide blood samples, have MRI brain scans, and answer questions about their health, lifestyle, memory and thinking. Participants may, however, choose to complete only the core aspect of the study.

In New South Wales, the medical and neuropsychological assessment can be done at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, or at the participant’s home; in Victoria at the National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne or at the participant’s home; and in Queensland at the Queensland Medical Research Institute, Brisbane. Blood samples can be collected through local pathology laboratories or through the participant’s GP. In New South Wales, brain scans are taken by Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, in Queensland at the Wesley Hospital, Brisbane, and in Victoria at the St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne. The cardiovascular assessment can only be done at the main centres, and the balance assessment is offered to New South Wales participants only.

For further information contact OATS on freecall 1800 81 TWIN or on email: twins@unsw.edu.au.

Publications

Lee T, Henry JD, Trollor JN, Sachdev PS. Genetic influences on cognitive functions in the elderly: a selective review of twin studies. Brain Research Reviews 2010; 64: 1-13.

Sachdev PS, Lammel A, Trollor JN, Lee T, Wright MJ, Ames D, Wen W, Martin NG, Brodaty H, Schofield P.
"A comprehensive neuropsychiatric study of elderly twins: The Older Australian Twins Study. "
Twin Research and Human Genetics 2009; 12 (6): 573-582

Staff

Older Australian Twins Study NSW

Study Coordinator

Andrea Lammél

Research Assistant

Caroline Arasaratnam

Administrative Assistant

Tanya Duckworth

Older Australian Twins Study QLD

Research Assistant

Natalie Garden

Older Australian Twins Study VIC

Research Assistant

Christel Lemmon

OATS Investigators

David Ames
Henry Brodaty
Tony Broe
Glenda Halliday
Teresa Lee
Nick Martin
Perminder Sachdev
Peter Schofield
Julian Trollor
Wei Wen
Margie Wright

OATS Collaborators

Bernard Baune
Lesley Campbell
Brian Draper
Diane Fatkin
Katherine Samaras
Katrina Scurrah
Jamie Vandenberg