Core 3: Data Collection & Data Management Core

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SWAN-Aging is designed to determine the extent to which midlife health and characteristics of the menopause transition (MT) affect successful aging in women, including the rate of cognitive decline and the risk of dementia and disability. This application proposes to build upon the rich resources of the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a longitudinal cohort study initiated in 1994 to characterize the physiological and psychosocial changes that occur during the MT. In SWAN-Aging, we will extend follow-up of the SWAN cohort into early old age (66-75 years) and expand data collection to include additional domains of cognition to detect cognitive impairment (executive and visual-spatial function, language fluency) and the functional impact of cognitive deficits (cognitively demanding instrumental activities of daily living), cardiac health, and sedentary behavior. It is one of a few studies that can quantify the rate of decline in cognitive performance during midlife and early old age and determine the contribution of modifiable risk factors to the incidence of mild cognitive impairment. SWAN-Aging includes three integrated Projects: Project 1 will evaluate the impact of MT characteristics and midlife health indicators on preservation of cognitive function (avoiding cognitive decline and onset of mild cognitive impairment), sleep, genitourinary and sexual function, and quality of life in early old age; Project 2 will test how the MT relates to cardiac health and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in women in early old age and test how cardiac health relates to early markers of physical impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia at a critical period in the lifespan; and Project 3 will examine the role of MT and midlife characteristics on musculoskeletal health and physical functioning. The specific aims of Data Collection and Data Management Core (Core 3) are to: 1) Maintain excellent retention of study participants at all clinical sites; 2) Finalize the participant visit protocol and ensure the collection of high quality data from the clinical sites and reading centers; 3) Implement effective quality control measures and provide analytic datasets to study investigators; and 4) Archive and share the SWAN-Aging data. Core 3 will work with the clinical sites to employ effective strategies to maintain SWAN’s high participant retention rate and develop clear, detailed protocols, on-site personnel trainings and quality control measures to monitor the collection of data and specimens. Core 3 will build on the strengths of the existing SWAN data management structure and incorporate improved technology to improve the efficiency of quality control processes. Core 3 will construct datasets to facilitate a variety of analytic strategies to comprehensively assess the role of MT and midlife factors on cognitive decline, cardiac health and physical functioning and will archive de-identified datasets for public use. Core 3 will play a vital role in conducting the Projects by supporting retention and data collection and ensuring that study data will be high quality and used to identify modifiable factors linked to avoidance of mild cognitive impairment, preservation of functioning, and optimization of quality of life in early old age.