Grant of two research projects on dementia

Collaborating researchers, companies, and social organizations will conduct research within projects in the form of consortia. Objective: To improve the quality of life of people with dementia by 25%. The two projects awarded together will receive 5.25 million and the social and private partners will also contribute 936,000 euros.

Within the main line mission Knowledge and Innovation Charter (KIC) 2020-2023 NWO annually develops a number of large thematic programs with a volume of 5-15 million euros. These are the so-called mission oriented programmes. Researchers submit proposals for collaborative projects with a budget of €750,000 to €4 million per proposal. Funding has now been awarded to two research projects within KIC called “Living with Dementia”.

multidisciplinary dementia research

Both projects focus on two interdisciplinary lines of research where connections are made with key technology Artificial Intelligence (AI). The first line of research is by Prof. Pijnenburg and relates to “mechanistic research” that leads to early, high-quality diagnosis, prognosis and interventions. The second line of Prof. Eijsselstein’s research concerns research into psychosocial interventions. This is aimed at personal (self) management and technology that is beneficial to patients and their caregivers.

The power of artificial intelligence

Prof. Pijnenburg from Amsterdam UMC on the first project: “Technological innovations are urgently needed to improve the quality of life in dementia. Existing technological solutions are often not aligned with individual needs and not sufficiently accessible. Quality of life works through the use of Artificial Intelligence in Dementia (QoLEAD). ) on harnessing the power of AI to deliver appropriate care solutions in three core areas: ‘health, safety and quality of care’, ‘social participation and sociability’ and ‘independence, meaning, self-esteem’.People with dementia and informal caregivers manage these innovations in An open network of practical websites, knowledge institutions and companies with the ultimate impact of improving the quality of life.”

Get to know better about dementia

Professor IJsselsteijn from Eindhoven University of Technology on the second project: “Dementia is often recognized at an early age, usually due to Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia, too late, in part because of the atypical symptom presentations. The Young Person: Mechanisms of Selective Impairment and Its Contribution to Disease Presentation) is able to better recognize dementia at an early age by developing new tests to measure behavior, social cognitive skills, language and cognition. We are also focusing on uncovering the underlying mechanism by mapping the biological characteristics of specific brain regions and using artificial intelligence. To create models in which clinical and biological characteristics correlate. This will speed up diagnosis and the development of new treatments.”

Improving the quality of life is important

The number of collaborations and projects related to a better quality of life for people with dementia is growing rapidly. Alzheimer’s Holland and health ~ Holland, for example, intends to A new form of collaboration (Union) on dementia. The two parties plan to invest three million each in the project. The goal: a better quality of life for people with dementia, or to participate and make a difference.