January 2025 – AI-AGE

31.01.2025.03.02.2026.

Revisiting the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in a European cohort of Llderly living with Type 2 Diabetes

Our newly published paper shows that commonly used cognitive screening tools may overestimate mild cognitive impairment in older adults with type 2 diabetes, highlighting the need for more precise, harmonised assessment strategies.

Beyond this key finding, the study reflects the strength of collaboration within the Horizon 2020 RECOGNISED consortium, bringing together multidisciplinary teams across Europe. Through shared protocols, aligned cognitive and clinical assessments, and Good Clinical Practice standards, this collaboration helped build a solid foundation for high-quality, comparable data. Such coordinated efforts are essential for advancing AI-ready research infrastructure and for the future discovery of non-invasive biomarkers of aging and multimorbidity.

🔗 Link to the paper: https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251318029

21.01.2025.21.01.2025.

Exploring Frailty and Multimorbidity: Advancing Healthcare for Middle-Aged Populations in Montenegro

At the Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, groundbreaking research is being conducted to address a growing health challenge: frailty and its connection to multimorbidity in middle-aged individuals. While traditionally associated with older adults, frailty is increasingly recognized as a critical issue for younger age groups, with significant implications for healthcare systems.

🔍 Why This Research Matters:

Frailty and multimorbidity are major contributors to increased mortality rates and healthcare utilization, creating a substantial burden on individuals and health systems alike. By examining these issues in a middle-aged Montenegrin population, this research aims to fill a critical knowledge gap and pave the way for more proactive healthcare approaches.

🎯 Main Goals of the Study:

Understand Frailty Prevalence: Investigate how frailty impacts middle-aged individuals and its relationship with chronic and infectious diseases.
Enhance Healthcare Strategies: Explore patterns in healthcare utilization to better address the dual challenges of frailty and multimorbidity.
Strengthen Health Systems: Provide actionable insights to support early identification and timely interventions for at-risk individuals, particularly in low- and middle-income settings.

This research emphasizes the urgent need to integrate frailty and multimorbidity assessments into primary healthcare, enabling tailored interventions that improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations. By focusing on preventive care and system strengthening, we can work toward reducing the burden of chronic diseases and enhancing the resilience of healthcare systems.

🌍 Building a Healthier Future:

The AI-AGE team is committed to advancing medical research that addresses pressing public health challenges. Together, we aim to create a more sustainable and equitable healthcare system for all.

17.01.2025.21.01.2025.

Celebrating the Conclusion of the RECOGNISED Project: A Milestone in Diabetes and Dementia Research

After four impactful years of collaboration, the RECOGNISED project, funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, has successfully reached its conclusion. This initiative brought together 21 partners from nine countries, including academic institutions, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), patient advocacy groups, and international research infrastructures like EATRIS, showcasing the power of multidisciplinary collaboration. Learn more about RECOGNISED project at [link]

Collaborating institutions in RECOGNISED project

Key Achievements:

🔬 Innovative Research: The project explored the use of the retina as a “window to the brain,” focusing on how retinal changes can serve as biomarkers for cognitive decline and dementia in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

💡 Groundbreaking Findings: Researchers conducted experimental and clinical studies, uncovering common molecular mechanisms between diabetic retinopathy and Alzheimer’s disease.

🌍 Global Collaboration: With partners from across Europe, including Montenegro, Spain, Italy, the UK, and the Netherlands, the project fostered a diverse network of experts in diabetes, ophthalmology, and neurology.

The insights gained through RECOGNISED have opened new avenues for early detection and treatment strategies, improving the quality of life for people with type 2 diabetes at risk of cognitive decline.

We extend our gratitude to all the partners and researchers for their dedication and to the European Union for their support through Horizon 2020.

Together, we are advancing the future of healthcare. 💙