Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) occur as a result of complex interactions among a variety of risk factors. Some of these factors constitute metabolic parameters that can be controlled, modified or eluded. Others cannot be controlled, and are due to age progression, family history or heredity. In the last decades, with the application of new technologies, researchers have revealed clues about new risk factors for ND, some of them related with metabolism, heredity and ageing. As therapies are still not very efficient, the identification of biomarkers can be used either to diagnose the disease or to identify treatment targets. Biomarkers usually refer to biochemical or genetic indicators of abnormal biological processes, but may also include markers present or expressed in cells. A reliable biomarker is precise, distinguishes between a healthy and a pathological condition, and can even differentiate between different stages of the disease. The main goal of the first task of the ICON project is to find indicators to detect the initial stages of these diseases, as well as to assess their severity and progression.
We aim to identify new biomarkers related with ND affecting the elderly population. To achieve this, we will use blood and urine samples from ill and healthy people to compare metabolomic, immunophenotype and genetic biomarkers. We will analyze several parameters related with metabolism, immune cell phenotypes and genetics, to identify neurodegenerative disease specific profiles in elderly people .
To achieve this goals, we constituted a study group of elderly people from retirement homes, day care centers and local health care centers of several municipalities of the Beira Interior region (Fundão, Belmonte and Covilhã), the "Elderly of Beira Interior cohort" (EBIcohort). We are performing the characterization of the elderly population of EBIcohort by collecting information (clinical and from a survey and tests performed by the researchers) related with their ill or healthy condition. This information will be essential for the constitution of EBIcohort and to be considered for the metabolomic detection of neurodegeneration biomarkers and for the characterization of the peripheral immune cell signature in the EBIcohort .
EBIcohort is constituted by elderly people from the following retirement homes:
ARPAZ - Lar de São Simão
Centro de Apoio a Crianças e Idosos de Cortes
Lar de São José
Associação de Socorros Mútuos "Mutualista Covilhanense"
Santa Casa da Misericordia da Covilha
Centro de Assistencia Social do Dominguizo
Assoc. Cent. Social do Sagrado Coração de Maria do Ferro
Residencial de Idosos Nossa Senhora das Dores
Lar das Oliveirinhas
Residência Sénior Don António
Centro Social Comunitário do Peso
Fundação Centro de Assistência Anita Pina Calado
Residência Sénior Senhora do Carmo
Centro de Apoio à Terceira Idade do Tortosendo
Centro Social Cultural de Santo Aleixo
Centro Social e Cultural de Verdelhos
Centro Social Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Vila do Carvalho
Santa Casa da Misericordia de Belmonte
Centro de Assistência Paroquial de Caria
Santa Casa da Misericordia do Fundão (Lar Misericordia, Lar São Sebastião; Lar Nossa Senhora de Fatima, Lar Nossa Senhora do Amparo)
Centro Social Nossa Senhora das Necessidades de Alcaria
Centro Paroquial de Bem-Estar Social de Valverde
Centro de Assistência Social dos Três Povos
Centro Social do Telhado
ACES Cova da Beira
All the procedures concerning information and sample procedures of the elderly people participating in EBIcohort have the approval of the Ethics Committee od University of Beira Interior.