Our research project aims to better understand the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease onset and progression, which are becoming increasingly prevalent due to population ageing. The scientific rationale for our research project lies in the complexity of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, which are multifactorial conditions influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. While genetic predisposition plays a significant role in disease susceptibility, lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, smoking, and mental health also contribute to disease risk. By leveraging data from the UK Biobank, which contains detailed information on lifestyle factors, health outcomes, and genetic data for a large cohort of individuals, we can investigate the complex interplay between genetics and lifestyle factors in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Our research aims to identify modifiable lifestyle factors that may influence disease development and progression, as well as potential gene-lifestyle interactions that could inform personalized prevention and treatment strategies. Firstly, we will try to exploit the extensive dataset available from the UK Biobank to develop lifestyle risk scores tailored to these neurodegenerative conditions. These risk scores will incorporate an extended range of lifestyle factors, including demographics, for both men and women of all ages diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and controls, nutrition, physical activity, quality of life, smoking, mental health, and physical health. By integrating such diverse information, we aim to create predictive models that can accurately estimate an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease based on their lifestyle profile. Additionally, we seek to explore the relationship between lifestyle factors and genetic predisposition to these diseases. As for Alzheimer’s disease, we will assess the aforementioned lifestyle risk score for the disease in conjunction with published polygenic risk scores (PRSs). With regard to Parkinson’s disease we aim to generate a novel polygenic risk score using the UKBB dataset and investigate its interactions with the respective lifestyle risk score. By analyzing the association between specific lifestyle factors and disease outcomes through advanced computational techniques, we seek to identify modifiable factors that may influence disease onset, symptoms and progression.
Our research is expected to provide insights into the causes of these conditions and pave the way for the development of personalized treatments tailored to each patient’s specific genetic profile and lifestyle. Our project will run for three years, allowing us to conduct comprehensive and in-depth research that has the potential to transform the landscape of neurological healthcare.
