A roadmap to dementia prevention: Unraveling the role of modifiable risk factors, circulating biomarkers, and the gut microbiome

Time period:

1 January 2026 – 31 December 2029

Project leader:

Susanna Larsson

Project member:

Fang Fang, Tove Fall, Karl Michaëlsson

Funder:

Swedish Research Council

Type of award:

Project grant

Total funding:

5,400,000 SEK

This project aims to address gaps in dementia research through a multidisciplinary approach, integrating traditional and molecular epidemiology. The aims are to:1) Identify and validate emerging and suspected modifiable risk factors for dementia.2) Identify circulating biomarkers (e.g., plasma proteins and metabolites) associated with the risk of incident dementia.3) Explore the role of the gut microbiome in dementia development.We will utilize data from two unique population-based longitudinal cohorts, encompassing 89,000 middle-aged and older Swedish adults who have completed repeated questionnaires on their lifestyle and other modifiable factors, and have been followed for nearly three decades. This extensive dataset and long follow-up enable precise risk estimations and the evaluation of mid-life and late-life exposures in relation to dementia diagnosed up to 30 years later, thereby mitigating reverse causation bias. Moreover, Mendelian randomization analyses will be performed to strengthen causal inference. This project is distinguished by its comprehensive approach and state-of-the-art methodologies for identifying and validating a wide array of modifiable risk factors and circulating biomarkers associated with dementia incidence. It will be the first study to explore the gut microbiome in relation to incident dementia. Our results are expected to provide valuable insights into potential preventive and intervention strategies to reduce the risk of dementia.