We are interested in the mechanisms by which vascular dysfunction causes cognitive decline. The major focus of our work is on cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), the most common cause of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and also a frequent finding in patients with neurodegenerative disease including Alzheimer’s disease.

Our methodological expertise is in structural and functional neuroimaging in humans using advanced analytical and statistical techniques.

We use datasets from large cohorts including population-based samples as well as patients with stroke and genetically defined forms of SVD. A specific focus of our group is on CADASIL, an inherited form of SVD and model disease for pure VCI.

A major theme is the development of biomarkers for VCI. We recently established a novel, fully automated and robust biomarker based on diffusion tensor imaging. A toolbox for the calculation of this novel biomarker is available publicly: www.psmd-marker.com

Another focus of our work is on the interplay between vascular and neurodegenerative pathology. Thus, for example, our group recently revealed a link between subcortical infarcts and changes of cortical morphology implying a role for remote, secondary neurodegeneration in stroke and VCI.