Specialization
Prevention of cardiovascular disease and dementia
Focus of research
My research focuses on the prevention of cardiovascular disease and dementia, in the context of both primary and public health care. Important themes are cardiovascular risk prediction modelling aimed at vulnerable populations (including older people, ethnic minorities and low-SES populations) and development of ethnic-specific interventions to improve overall cardiovascular health. Over the last ten years, together with Philips Vital Health and other partners, I have contributed to the development of lifestyle intervention platforms for self-management of cardiovascular and dementia risk factors, with remote coaching (eHealth and mHealth), which were tested in several randomised controlled trials both in Europe and China.
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; www.prodemos.eu)
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)