Hock
Fakultäten » Medizinische Fakultät » Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik » Psychiatrische Forschung, Abteilung für und Klinik für Alterspsychiatrie » Prof. Dr. Christoph Hock » Hock
Current research project
| Title / Titel | The conversion of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease | ||||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | This project is designed to reveal the fundamental biological factors that determine the conversion from benign memory impairment in the elderly, also referred to as "mild cognitive impairment", to overt dementia, in particular Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease affects approximately 100'000 individuals in Switzerland, 5 million in the United States and 15 million worldwide. Alzheimer's disease is a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that places a substantial burden on patients, their families, the communities and health care systems. Approximately 15% of subjects with mild cognitive impairment convert to Alzheimer's disease every year, indicating that mild cognitive impairment is a precursor syndrome of Alzheimer's disease. Halting cognitive decline at the mild cognitive impairment stage would essentially result in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. This longitudinal naturalistic study aims at following the course of 300 elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment over time. The clinical investigations comprise neuropsychology, neuroimaging procedures (MRI, PET), genetics and immunological tests in blood. This study is a joint endeavor of the Universities of Zurich, Geneva and Basel with an integrated training program for young physician scientists. Weitere Informationen |
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| Publications / Publikationen | Weitere Informationen | ||||||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | Alzheimer, prevention, early detection, imaging | ||||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Other links to external web pages | SNF SPUM, Spezialprogramm Universitäre Medizin | ||||||||
| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Universität Zürich (position pursuing an academic career), SNF (Personen- und Projektförderung), Private Sector (e.g. Industry) |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Jul 2009 to Jun 2012 |