Of all the organs in the human body, the brain is often considered as the most mysterious and least understood, yet most indispensable organ. Both the development in early years and degeneration in late life are poorly understood. Neuro-degeneration in late life often causes clinical disorders, such as dementia, cognitive decline, stroke, and depression. From a public health perspective, these neurodegenerative disorders put a massive burden on health resources and health care: not only are these disorders already highly frequent, but with the increasingly older population their prevalence and incidence are only expected to further increase in prevalence and incidence.1 In order to prevent these diseases knowledge of their etiology is an essential first step. Research using neuro-imaging and genetics has played a central role in finding etiologic markers of neurodegenerative disease.

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Pfizer B.V., Janssen-Cilag B.V., Internationale Stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek, Glaxo Smith Kline, Stichting Het Remmert Adriaan Laan Fonds, Alzheimer Nederland, Erasmus MC Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
M.M.B. Breteler (Monique)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/17656
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Ikram, A. (2009, March 25). Determinants and Outcomes of Structural Brain Changes. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/17656