Data & Analysis Core

The overarching objective of the Data & Analysis Core is to optimize the rich longitudinal data available for Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) participants by helping translate this data from electronic health records and other sources into research knowledge via data integration and analysis of numerous complementary data streams. In doing so, the ACT data can serve as a national resource for a wide spectrum of research related to brain aging, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

This core’s primary function is to help the ACT Study achieve its broad research aim of understanding aging and cognition by managing a secure, multi-domain ACT repository of high-quality research data. The core provides comprehensive computational support to conduct analyses that answer the many scientific questions of interest, and facilitates efficient data sharing with external researchers to promote broad use of ACT data.

The Data & Analysis Core is organized as a Biostatistics Unit, an Informatics Unit, and a Data Sharing Unit. This structure enables the team to leverage its members’ extensive biostatistical leadership experience, deep knowledge of data relevant for ACT, and demonstrated commitment to supporting public research through data sharing, all of which enables the Data & Analysis Core to support scientific knowledge of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.