Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease are known for intensive care and associated hospitalizations. Early diagnosis and effective treatment methods are therefore necessary to reduce health care costs and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

'Memories' takes Alzheimer's disease as proof-of-concept. In about 5 out of 100 families in which the disease begins before the age of 65, the cause is usually hereditary. However, there are young patients without these genetic risk factors, which suggests that unprecedented genes and / or external factors play a role. The majority, however, develops symptoms in old age, usually after the age of 60. This type of Alzheimer's does not have a genetic background. It is assumed that there is an accumulation of changes in the genetic material by age and influenceable risk factors such as chemicals (heavy metals, pesticides, anæstetica) and lifestyle (obesity). The mechanisms by which these risk factors drive the further development of the disease will be investigated in 'Memories' and applied in new diagnostic methods and therapies.

The project focuses among other things on being able to make early diagnostics. For example, the Icometrix software, which was originally developed for measuring brain deformations in multiple sclerosis, will be adapted for use in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The principle is that images from MRI brain scans can be converted into figures, comparable with the numerical values of a blood test. In this way, more precise measurements can be made. These data are further evaluated to optimize the diagnosis, follow-up and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Duration: 1-1-2018 - 31-12-2020

Project Budget: 2,476,613 euros

ERDF financing: EUR 799,946