The Nun Study: Insights from 30 years of aging and dementia research.

ABSTRACT: The Nun Study is an iconic longitudinal study of aging and dementia on a cohort of 678 Catholic nuns from the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Participants consented to undergoing annual neuropsychological assessments, allowing researchers access to convent archives and medical records and post mortem brain donation. This study investigated the associations between epidemiological factors, cognitive function, and brain pathology. By examining published literature that reports on or utilizes Nun Study data, we provide an overview of its methodology and key findings, emphasizing its significant contributions to understanding cognitive impairment and related neuropathologies. Seminal findings on early-life factors affecting cognitive health, clinicopathological correlations, and apparent resista

SUBMITTER: Clarke KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11852352 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature