The Flemish Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele (nationalist) has announced that the Flemish Government is investing 16.5 million euro in a large-scale study on Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of the study is to detect the condition earlier and support future clinical research. The study that has been called the Flemish Cognitive Compass will involve 5,000 people aged 50 and over.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Diependaele said that “Today, more than 130,000 people in Flanders live with dementia. The most common cause is Alzheimer’s disease”.
The Flemish PM stressed that early detection is crucial as the biological processes underlying Alzheimer’s disease begin decades before the first symptoms appear. Early intervention could significantly improve outcomes for those living with the condition.
Blood tests and biomarkers
The project will focus on blood tests to measure the biomarker p-tau217. This can predict the likelihood of a person developing Alzheimer’s up to ten years before the first symptoms emerge. Mr Diependaele explained that “In order to be able to detect and treat the condition promptly in the future, it is important to detect biological changes in the brain at the earliest possible stage”.
The Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) will work together with Flemish universities on the study. It will be lead by Professor Bart De Strooper, a world authority on Alzheimer’s research and co-founder of the Dementia Research Institute in the UK. Professor De Strooper divides time between London and Leuven (Flemish Brabant) where he also heads a laboratory.
The project will also create a cohort for future clinical trials and includes a comprehensive social and ethical framework. While Alzheimer’s remains incurable, recent drugs can slow disease progression in early stages, and medication that alleviate symptoms is more effective if it is administered before symptoms appear.
Mr Diependaele was also keen to stress the wider social impact impact of the project: “It’s a disease that has a major impact on many people in Flanders. This project combines a very significant social impact with economic impact. This project should also boast our pharmaceutical sector.”
The Flemish Cognitive Compass is intended to be a long-term initiative that will continue beyond the current legislative term. Its aim is to advance Alzheimer’s research both here in Flanders and internationally.