Research Projects

Understanding the genetics of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the best ways of improving our knowledge of the disease's underlying pathophysiological processes. Indeed, genetic factors account for up to 70% of the attributable risk in common forms of AD. The advent of genomic approaches has led to the characterization of 26 genetic determinants...

Our project aims to address the need for improved informal care by training cohabitating spouse caregivers to implement music interventions that target behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, and the quality of life and wellbeing of people with dementia, and of family caregivers. Our international randomised controlled trial involving...

In the absence of a cure for dementia, most research is aimed at an early diagnosis as it opens the way to timely future care and treatment, and can help people take control of their lives and plan ahead. However, people with moderate to severe dementia and their carers are often not receiving services of the type, quality and timing that they need...

MEETINGDEM aims to implement and evaluate the innovative Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) for community dwelling people with dementia and their family carers, in three European countries: Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. This person-centred approach has been positively evaluated and adaptively implemented in 118 meeting centres in the...

Neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases constitute a major health burden, and in spite of several decades of intensive research, the molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases are still poorly understood, and effective drug treatments are generally lacking. Alterations in protein synthesis have been implicated in several of these...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, and a major reason for disability and death. The time course of AD varies between different people affected, and being able to tell in advance how the disease is likely to progress would have a great value for patient, their caregivers and for all of society. In the...

Everybody grows old. But while some people grow old in good health, others experience severe disease, such as Alzheimer's disease. Recent research demonstrates that Alzheimer's disease shares several features with the ageing process and suggests that the pathology is the consequence of something that goes wrong during physiological ageing...

Neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, corticobasal degeneration, multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy. We currently classify and treat these conditions based on symptoms and clinical findings. Although this approach seems logical, it...

DEMTEST has established a large European and global collaboration between national surveillance units and dementia research centres, facilitating cooperation between neurologists, neuropathologists and neuroscientists. We work on standardisation of tests that are currently available and harmonise their use between centers worldwide. We define...

Neurodegenerative disorders, represented mostly by Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), are characterised by progressive neuronal impairment and death. In spite of the brain's known capacity for regeneration, lost neurons generally cannot be replaced. Therefore, drugs aimed at inhibiting neurodegenerative processes are likely to...

Dementia is a group of disorders characterized by severe memory loss ultimately impairing daily life activities. Major forms are Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Each dementia type is caused by different biological factors and therefore requires a specific treatment targeting these factors. To develop effective...