Predictors of Cognitive Decline in Normal Aging

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and females, from all racial and ethnic categories between the ages of 60-80 years of age, with English as their first language.
• Residents of the New York City metropolitan area.
• Minimum of 12 years of education.
• Participants will be grouped according to the following classifications: normal aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), or frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
• Participants will agree to ApoE genotyping and DNA banking.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Past history or MRI evidence of brain damage including significant trauma, stroke, hydrocephalus, lacunar infarcts, seizures, mental retardation or serious neurological disorder.
• Significant history of alcoholism or drug abuse.
• History of psychiatric illness (e.g., schizophrenia, mania or depression).
• Any focal signs or significant neuropathology.
• A score of 4 or greater on the Modified Hachinski Ischemia Scale suggesting cerebrovascular disease.
• A total score of 16 or more on the Hamilton Depression Scale to exclude possible cases of primary depression.
• Evidence of clinically relevant and uncontrolled hypertensive, cardiac, pulmonary, vascular, metabolic or hematologic conditions.
• Physical impairment of such severity as to adversely affect the validity of psychological testing.
• Hostility or refusal to cooperate.
• Any prosthetic devices (e.g., pacemaker or surgical clips) that could be affected by the magnetic field employed during MRI imaging.
• History of familial early onset dementia.