Danish Dementia Research Centre has a clinical research group and a proteomics and neurogenetic laboratory and coordinates the Danish Dementia Biobank. The current annual number of publications is approximately 30-40, with 1-3 PhD theses.
The main focus of our research is clinical dementia and
neurogenetics research focusing on biofluid markers and brain
imaging markers for neurodegenerative disorders, intervention
research, and epidemiological studies. The large patient materials
for common as well as rare familial disorders, the Danish Dementia
Biobank, and the national networks offer unique opportunities for
innovations and industrial spin-off in collaboration with local and
international biotech and pharmaceutical industry.
The Danish Dementia Biobank
The recently established biobank collects DNA (and to some
extent plasma and CSF) from memory clinic patients in DDRC and in
Roskilde memory clinic. Other memory clinics will be invited to
join.
Imaging studies
We are interested in in-vivo imaging of β-amyloid with PiB-PET
and in studying the clinical significance of white matter structure
and integrity using MRI and DTI method.
Biomarker studies: Using proteomic techniques we have identified
novel panel of biomarkers in the CSF of patients with AD and
fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), which will be further analysed and
characterised in our laboratory in collaboration with the Statens
Serum Insitut.
Neurogenetic research
The neurogenetic programme offers a unique integrated
counselling, diagnostic and follow-up focusing on late onset
inherited neurodegenerative disorders e.g. Huntington Disease (HD).
Dr. Jørgen E. Nielsen is a member of the Steering Committee of the
European Huntington Disease Network (EHDN) and through EHDN most
Danish HD patients are enrolled in REGISTRY, which is a
multicentre, multinational observational study with no experimental
treatment sponsored by the High Q Foundation. Our clinic is
worldleading in the recruitment of HD patients for the
Dimebond-trial sponsored by Medivation. In addition, our
researchers perform basic studies of HD and SCA using cell and
animal models in the associated neurogenetics section of the
Faculty of Health Sciences
The Danish Alzheimer Intervention Study (DAISY)
A randomised controlled rater-blinded multicentre trial on early
psychosocial counselling and support in Alzheimer's disease, with
330 patients and 3-year follow-up, was recently completed and
showed positive effects on selected outcomes in patients. It is the
largest study worldwide and the only study combining support to
patients and caregivers. The study was supported by the Ministry of
Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Danish Health
Foundation. We have planned to initiate other trials of complex
interventions in AD (ex. physical exercise).
Epidemiology of dementia i Denmark
The Danish hospital and psychiatry registries offer unique
opportunities for studying long-term outcome and risk factors for
dementia in large patient materials. We used the registries to
validate dementia, to study the time trend in dementia diagnoses in
secondary health care and the quality of diagnostic evaluation of
dementia in Denmark. We also identified hysterectomy as a potential
risk factor for early onset dementia in women.
Epidemiology of dementia in Lebanon
The Danish Dementia Research Center (DDRC) cooperates with the
10/66 Dementia Research Group (DRG) at the Institute of Psychiatry,
King's College London in the UK and Faculty of Health Sciences,
American University of Beirut, Lebanon, in an international
research project.
The project aims to validate the 10/66 DRG diagnostic instrument
for dementia in Arabic and to to determine the prevalence of
dementia in two provinces in Lebanon, Beirut and Nabatieh.
This research project will be followed by a nationwide study to
give a more precise estimate of the prevalence of dementia and
gather data for follow-up studies on risk and protective factors
for dementia in Lebanon. Because all 10/66 DRG studies are using
the same method, the data from this study can be directly compared
with data from other 10/66 DRG studies to shed new light on risk
and protective factors for dementia in order to develop new
preventive strategies and treatment of dementia.
The research project is funded by a grant from the National
Institute of Health in the U.S. (Grant. Nr. 1R21AG039333-01).
Drug trials
Our centre has participated in 21 international drug trials
since 1996 in AD, mild cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, and
HD. We have conducted trials in phases I (first in human) to IV for
symptomatic or disease modifying drugs and in phase II-III for
diagnostic agents. Our study coordinator and members of our staff
are well trained in good clinical practice (GCP). We have had
successful evaluations from site inspections by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), the Danish Medical Agency, and the
Danish Data Protection Agency. Senior members of our staff have
contributed to the design of international trials in dementia, and
have served on steering committees and data/safety monitoring
boards.