DADS - Dissecting agitation in dementia by multimodal sensing (DADS)

From 01-10-2023 to 30-09-2027

Description

With age as the leading risk factor for most forms of dementia, an aging population in Belgium, Europe, and worldwide, means an increase in the number of people with dementia (PwD). It is estimated that 136,624 people in Flanders have dementia, a number that is estimated to double by 20601. Globally, there are currently over 50 million PwD, a number expected to reach 82 million in 2030 and triple to 152 million in 20502. The added costs of dementia, now around 1 trillion US dollars a year, are also forecast to be doubled by 20302. Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Belgium3.

Dementia is characterised by a loss of cognitive functioning (memory, language, judgement, etc.). However, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), also known as neuropsychiatric symptoms, are as clinically relevant as their cognitive counterparts. BPSD are common in every type of dementia (Alzheimer's disease, vascular, frontotemporal, Lewy Body, Parkinson, etc.), and almost all PwD will develop BPSD during their disease4. BPSD are associated with faster cognitive decline and progression of dementia5,6, lower quality of life of patients7,8, and a substantial increase in caregiver burden9,10. BPSD is the most important factor in eventual institutionalisation, ahead of the cognitive decline itself11,12. Thus, BPSD leads to increased health care and economic costs.

Team

• Maarten De Vos, Promoter

Financing

Funding: KU Leuven - Internal Funding KU Leuven

Program/Grant Type: C2 - KU Leuven Category 2 Funding