A main focus will be continued follow-up of the ASKLEPIOS study, following >2500 apparently healthy subjects from Erpe-Mere and Nieuwerkerken since 2002 (22+ years of follow-up).  The study on this population sample (aged between 35 and 55 years at baseline) focuses on better risk prevention models (biomarker discovery & validation) and better understanding of human aging (epigenetics, development of cardiovascular disease and neurocognitive decline).

Specifically we will have 3 goals for the coming years:

1. A subgroup of 250+ subjects of the cohort will undergo extensive neuropsychological testing and innovative MRI scans using (among others) cerebral perfusion using arterial spin labeling (a very promising technique and one of the earliest biomarkers for dementia). Ongoing PhD of Soetkin Beun of which I am the main supervisor
2. An evaluation of the feasibility and applicability of organ specific proteomic clocks using our extensive proteomics database. This will be the work of Robbe Neirynck who was recently awarded his FWO PhD fellowship (co-supervisor; Tim De Meyer main supervisor).
3. Continued follow-up and accrual of hard cardiovascular endpoint data in the overall cohort allowing for upcoming outcomes analyses.