Areas of investigation/research focus

Our primary research involves the application of traditional and novel epidemiologic methods to identify potential causal risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, especially for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.

To identify early targetable risk factors for neurodegenerative disease, we employ novel genetic and non-genetic approaches to omics-data and individual-level cohort data. These data, collected from large cohorts in either a case-control or prospective settings, will be investigated to study the effects of nutritional, environmental, and infectious agents on the risk and prognosis of neurological disease, as well as the identification of early biomarkers for diagnosis and genetic determinants of susceptibility of neurodegenerative diseases. We will primarily focus on the local Swabia register that has been collecting data on ALS and FTD and will expand the research to Huntington’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Our research will also involve other national and international cohorts. Collectively, these studies constitute a unique opportunity that we hope will contribute to the discovery of new targetable factors for early prevention and treatment of these neurodegenerative diseases.