The Genetic Studies of Alzheimer’s Disease in Caribbean Hispanics (EFIGA) is the largest collection of Caribbean Hispanic multiplex AD families recruited and longitudinally assessed worldwide. At this stage we are concentrating our efforts on follow up visits and expanding already recruited families. We will continue to recruit new families as well as expanding the existing ones. We will also continue our efforts on identifying genetic variants predisposing to LOAD. On the other hand there we will continue to expand our cohort of unrelated cases and controls. The use of multiplex families to understand genetic susceptibility to AD began with early‐onset forms. 

Over the length of the project EFIGA have identified environmental, health-related and genetic risk factors of disease and predictors of disease progression by collecting longitudinal data on cognitive performance, emotional health, independence in daily activities, blood pressure, cardiovascular status in this Caribbean Hispanic cohort. Sample collection includes DNA, Plasma, CSF and Paxgene.

Richard Mayeux, MD, MSc
Columbia University

R01AG067501

Acknowledgment statement for any data distributed by NIAGADS:

Data for this study were prepared, archived, and distributed by the National Institute on Aging Alzheimer's Disease Data Storage Site (NIAGADS) at the University of Pennsylvania (U24-AG041689), funded by the National Institute on Aging.

For investigators using Estudio Familiar de la Influencia Genetica en Alzheimer (EFIGA) data:

Data collection for this project was supported by the Genetic Studies of Alzheimer’s disease in Caribbean Hispanics (EFIGA) funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (5R37AG015473, RF1AG015473, R56AG051876, R01AG067501). We acknowledge the EFIGA study participants and the EFIGA research and support staff for their contributions to this study.

Honig, Lawrence S et al. Evaluation of Plasma Biomarkers for A/T/N Classification of Alzheimer Disease Among Adults of Caribbean Hispanic Ethnicity. JAMA network open vol. 6,4 e238214. 3 Apr. 2023, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.8214. PubMed Link.