The dementia cohort study will start during 2020 and aims at identifying molecular processes that are relevant across sub-groups of dementia and processes that can help stratify dementia into sub-groups that reflect underlying biology. The central hypothesis in this project is that converging molecular pathways exist across subtypes of dementia, but also that there are underlying subtypes that may not be fully reflected in the current classification system of dementia. We will identify biological overlap and disease subtypes, based on a transdisciplinary approach integrating cognitive testing, clinical investigations, neuroimaging and molecular biomarkers. Thus, this approach will enable us to reclassify and stratify Dementia according to underlying biological patterns. Our overarching objective is to establish a cohort with multidimensional data that can be integrated in order to the complex clinical and biological spectrum of in Dementia and stratify it into subclasses with homogeneous biology and prognosis. This knowledge will then be used to develop diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and identify novel therapeutic targets. Secondary objectives include:

1) Establish and characterize the Dementia cohort, a population-based dementia cohort focusing on AD and DLB
2) Elucidate genome-wide epigenetic and transcriptomic signatures associated with Dementia
3) Establish an objective molecular classification system for Dementia
4) Develop precision biomarkers for accurate molecular diagnosis and patient stratification in clinical practice

Professor Dag Arsland is a collaborator in this study.