PhD J.J. (Jacqueline) Claus

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges of this century and has profound impact on patients, their families, and society. This dissertation focuses on improving the prediction of individuals at high risk of developing dementia by examining strokes and brain scans. It consists of three main topics, which I will briefly outline below.
First, I describe the risk of dementia in individuals who have experienced a stroke. This group has a higher likelihood of developing dementia compared to those who have not had a stroke. Cardiovascular diseases, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, can further increase the risk of dementia after a stroke.
Second, I explore three key predictors of dementia: (1) vascular damage, (2) the thickness of the cerebral cortex (the outer layer of the brain), and (3) the shrinkage of small regions deep within the brain. These indicators are visible on brain scans and can help improve the prediction of who is at higher risk of developing dementia.
Finally, I address the question of whether people are interested in knowing their risk of dementia. While significant research is being conducted to improve dementia prediction, it remains unclear whether individuals actually want to know their risk. I posed this question to a large audience, and the findings revealed that most people are curious about their risk but also find it a difficult decision to make.
This dissertation demonstrates that strokes and brain scans can aid in better predicting dementia. These findings may contribute to improved prevention strategies and more personalized treatment approaches for dementia.