Specialization
Prevention of cardiovascular disease and dementia
Focus of research
My research focuses on the prevention of cardiovascular disease and dementia within both primary care and public health settings. Key themes include cardiovascular risk prediction modeling tailored to vulnerable populations, such as older adults, culturally diverse groups, and individuals with low socioeconomic status. Additionally, I work on the development of ethnic-specific interventions to enhance overall cardiovascular health.
Over the past decade, in collaboration with Philips Vital Health, Interactive Studios, and other partners, I have contributed to the development of lifestyle intervention platforms designed to support the self-management of cardiovascular and dementia risk factors through remote coaching (eHealth and mHealth). These platforms have been evaluated in several randomized controlled trials across Europe and China, and further studies are currently ongoing.
Additionally, my research explores the relationship between antihypertensive medication classes and dementia risk, building on the angiotensin hypothesis, which suggests that certain antihypertensive drug classes may offer neuroprotective effects. I am currently working on new studies investigating whether specific antihypertensive medications are associated with a lower risk of dementia, further expanding this line of research.
Current or recent studies:
1. Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS study; www.heliusstudy.nl)
2. Prevention of Dementia using Mobile Phone Applications (PRODEMOS study - UK/China)
3. Healthy Aging Through Internet Counseling of the Elderly (HATICE study; www.hatice.eu)
4. Prevention of dementia (and CVD) by intensive vascular care in primary health care (preDIVA study)