Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of symptoms that affect cognitive functioning and interfere with daily life. It can be caused by several different diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), and vascular dementia (VD). Although these forms of dementia differ in their causes and characteristics, they all involve changes in the brain that ultimately lead to cognitive decline.

In MODEM, we investigate different forms of dementia, with a particular focus on the biological processes and mechanisms that underlie the onset and progression of these diseases. By understanding what happens in the brain, from the earliest stages onwards, we aim to gain insight into why dementia develops and progresses, but also into the mechanisms that may protect the brain against disease. Ultimately, this knowledge may reveal new opportunities for preventing or slowing disease progression and for developing new treatments.

The strength of MODEM lies in bringing together researchers with complementary expertise from several Dutch research institutions. This multidisciplinary collaboration allows us to study dementia from different perspectives and at different levels. We develop and apply innovative approaches to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, for example using neurons and other brain cells derived from patients, as well as advanced methods for imaging changes in the brain. By combining these approaches, we aim to build a more complete picture of how dementia develops and to translate this knowledge into better diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Curious to learn more about our research and the different projects within MODEM? Visit our Projects page.