Cohort profile: the Health and Memory Study (HMS): a dementia cohort linked to the HUNT study in Norway.

The aim of the Health and Memory Study (HMS) of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, was primarily to establish a database suitable as basis for a large number of studies on dementia. Data from the HMS study were collected via questionnaires and examinations during the period from 1995 to 2011. The dementia panel consists of 620 participants residing in nursing homes and 920 participants referred to memory clinics of Nord-Trøndelag. Data from this dementia panel may be linked to the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (the HUNT study), three large population based health surveys that took place in 1984-86 (HUNT1), 1995-97 (HUNT2) and 2006-08 (HUNT3). Data collection is complete and the participation rate in the HUNT1 for patients diagnosed with dementia was 86%. The sub-studies in the HMS are focused on examining risk factors, caregiver burden, healthcare consumption and economic consequences of treating and having dementia. Researchers interested in the HMS study are invited to contact HUNT at hunt@medisin.ntnu.no.