Research Projects

Common mechanisms and pathways in Stroke and Alzheimer's disease. It has long been recognized that stroke and (Alzheimer’s Disease) AD often co-occur and have an overlapping pathogenesis. As such, these two diseases are not considered fellow travelers, but rather partners in crime. This multidisciplinary consortium includes epidemiologists...

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common form of dementia. A pathological hallmark is the formation of protein aggregates that consist mainly of Tau or TDP43. Patients suffer from the degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes with no effective treatments being available. The recent advancement of 3D brain organoid cultures grown...

Influenced by the developments in information and communication technologies and pressured by the dramatic changes in demographics in our societies, health care is and must be transforming to remain viable and of high quality. An important element in such changing health care is the emergence of personal health systems. Based on smart home...

As the world’s population is aging, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is estimated to triple by 2050. Even though AD was identified more than 100 years ago, research has gained momentum only the last 30 years. To date, studies have mainly focused on the accumulation of two proteins, amyloid-beta and tau to understand the pathophysiology of...

ConnectToBrain will introduce whole-brain multi-locus transcranial magnetic stimulation (mTMS), in which the brain-stimulating electric-field location, direction, magnitude and timing are controlled electronically based on real-time high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG) information of activity and connectivity in brain networks. The final...

CHANCES aims at combining and integrating on-going cohort studies in order to produce evidence on ageing-related health characteristics and determinants in Europe, and their socio-economic implications. 15 cohorts participate, covering populations from 18 EU Member States, 4 associate countries, and 3 additional countries. The combination of these...

The aggregation of proteins into amyloid fibrils is involved in various diseases which place a high burden on patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare systems, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes. While the therapeutic potential of the inhibition of amyloid formation and spreading has been recognized, there...

Pericytes, located at intervals along capillaries, have recently been revealed as major controllers of brain blood flow. Normally, they dilate capillaries in response to neuronal activity, increasing local blood flow and energy supply. But in pathology they have a more sinister role. After artery block causes a stroke, the brain suffers from the...

The objective of the Coordination Action JUMPAHEAD is to support the implementation of the pilot Joint Programming Initiative on combating neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (JPND). Neurodegenerative disorders are incurable and debilitating conditions that result in progressive degeneration or death of nerve cells. Of...

Mental health and emotional well-being during old age (60\) should be regarded as important as at any other time of a persons’ life. Older people are more likely to experience events that affect emotional well-being, such as bereavement or disability. Unfortunately, mental health problems are under identified in older people, whom themselves are...

Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterised by the accumulation of beta amyloid peptide cut from a transmembrane precursor. A large intramembrane complex carries out the proteolysis: gamma-secretase, containing the protease presenilin and other three proteins (nicastrin, aph1, pen2). G-secretase is involved also in the proteolysis mediated signaling...

EuroPOND will develop a data-driven statistical and computational modeling framework for neurological disease progression. This will enable major advances in differential and personalized diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, and treatment and care decisions, positioning Europe as world leaders in one of the biggest societal challenges of 21st century...