With around 300,000 patients, dementia is one of the biggest challenges in healthcare in the Netherlands
On February 16, the national research project TAP-dementia started, part of the National Dementia Strategy of the Dutch government. TAP Dementia stands for Timely, Accurate and Personalized Diagnosis of Dementia. Researchers from Maastricht UMC+ are joining forces with colleagues from all over the country to improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This is of great importance for patients and their environment, but also for treating physicians.
With around 300,000 patients, dementia is one of the biggest challenges in healthcare in the Netherlands. Dementia can have different causes. Determining which brain disease causes the dementia is complicated. Partly because of this, it often takes years before it is clear what is going on. Sometimes no diagnosis is made at all or patients only know that there is dementia, but not what disease it is due to. It is important to determine the underlying brain disease, as a proper diagnosis is the ticket to appropriate care and treatment. It is also important for patients and their families to know which disease is causing the dementia. This way you know better what to expect. And how to deal with that.
Importance for drug development
In addition, establishing a good diagnosis is the starting point for developing better treatments and medicines in the future. Wiesje van der Flier, project leader of TAP-dementia and scientific director of Alzheimercentrum Amsterdam: ‘We have already made some progress in improving the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, but with this project we really want to take a step towards diagnosing other forms of dementia. improve dementia. We also pay attention to mixed brain damage, or multiple brain diseases at the same time. Because that happens a lot.’ A good diagnosis is Timely (neither too early nor too late), Accurate (the diagnosis must be correct) and Personalized (in line with the wishes and needs of the patient and family), together this is TAP.
Five research projects
Within TAP-dementia, 10 organizations are working together on five research projects. The starting point is that diagnostics meet the wishes and needs of patients and relatives. The researchers are evaluating promising tests for different forms of dementia in practice. New tests are also being developed to refine the diagnosis.
Alzheimer Center Limburg
The Alzheimer Center Limburg is part of the Maastricht UMC+ and, together with the Amsterdam UMC, coordinates one of the five TAP research projects, namely TAP-PAT. In this project, the wishes and needs of people with dementia and their loved ones are investigated during the diagnostic process. Existing diagnostic methods will also be harmonized and first steps will be taken to implement these methods in clinical practice.
Experiences of people with dementia
Within the consortium, an important role is reserved for people with dementia and their families. They know better than anyone how the diagnostic process works and where there is room for improvement. A group of people with dementia and their families think along with the researchers about how research results can be disseminated to ensure that new knowledge is used in practice.
Broad national cooperation
The TAP-dementia consortium is a national collaboration, led by Prof. Dr. Wiesje van der Flier, scientific director of the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC. The five Alzheimer Centers (Amsterdam UMC – location VUmc, Erasmus MC, Maastricht UMC+, RadboudUMC, UMC Groningen), UMC Utrecht, Amsterdam UMC – location AMC, VU University Amsterdam, Elisabeth TweeSteden Hospital, Vilans and the Dutch Memory Clinic Network (NGN) are part from this consortium.
National Dementia Strategy
Within the National Dementia Strategy, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) has commissioned research into the causes of dementia, better diagnostics, dementia at a young age, prevention of dementia and innovative treatments for dementia. TAP-dementia is one of the consortia of the National Dementia Strategy that has been honored by ZonMw.
Knowing more?
More information and contact details can be found at TAP-dementia.nl.
Watch the TAP animation.
Source: Maastricht UMC+
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