We perform quantitative empirical research with the aim of understanding what determines people’s health across their life span. Specifically, we focus on the identification of causes and causal disease mechanisms that can be targeted to prevent or delay the onset of clinical disease (etiologic research). We also aim to identify biomarkers and develop methods to assess disease risk. Our goal is to aid the development of prevention strategies for neurodegenerative and other age-related diseases, most notably dementia.

Most age-related diseases occur as the cumulative resultant of varying combinations of protective, restorative, and detrimental factors. We are interested in the effects of the exposome as well as the (epi)genome on health. To derive imaging as well as blood-based biomarkers of (healthy) aging and to find people at risk, we use advanced brain imaging and leverage high-dimensional multi-omic data. In addition, we are interested in the relation between sensory systems and brain structure and function, and conduct pharmacoepidemiologic and pharmacogenomic research.