Our multi-disciplinary team will use the genetics, brain imaging, cognition, family history, and medical history data in the UK Biobank to support research on neurodegenerative disease, namely Frontotemporal dementia spectrum disorders, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In precision medicine studies such as this one, the aim is to connect genotype (i.e., the genes that make up an individual) and family/medical history with phenotype (i.e., the observable characteristics of the individual). In this work, we are seeking to better describe how underlying genetic makeup & patient history lead to the expression of neurodegenerative disorders as measured through changes in imaging and cognition. Improved understanding of these relationships enables us to better define the spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases and their progression in individuals and patient groups. This knowledge can improve clinicians’ ability to assign risk to patient populations as well as monitor and treat those patients. It can also improve our ability to assess the efficacy of potential therapies and treatments. As the world’s population ages, such improvements will be critical to predicting, treating, and preventing neurodegenerative disease.
