Interviews

Alumni on their Fellows’ and GBHI Experience

Name: Ioannis Tarnanas
Alumnus of 2016 Class
Neuroscience & Computer Science
Home Country: Greece

My work residence is at Switzerland but my community of clinical practice in Greece, where in recent years there have been several dementia prevention trials conducted with large human populations that have shown conclusive evidence of neuroprotection. The neurobiology of dementia suggests that “a multifaceted approach” to prevention may be most effective. Such approaches are the ACTIVE, MIND Diet and FINGER study, which found that a kitchen sink approach – healthy eating, brain training, exercise, and managing diabetes and cardiovascular risk – slow cognitive decline.

When I was selected to be among the first cohort of Atlantic Fellows with the Global Brain Health Institute, I focused on brain equity with the help of technology. The technology was named Altoida and could identify modifiable risk factors for dementia and compiled an automatically calculated Lifestyle for Brain Health (LIBRA) score through “digital biomarker” readings. The predictive value of LIBRA, reflecting someone's potential for dementia prevention, was studied in a large longitudinal population-based sample with respect to predicting cognitive change over an observation period of up to 16 years (Maastricht Ageing Study).

Reflecting on my fellowship I participated in a huge undertaking. An ongoing mission is to end health inequality and enable healthcare access to everyone in Greece. I believe that both the human touch as well as technology can work together towards that end. The proof came when Altoida was recognised as one of the Rice Alliance 10 Most Promising Life Science Companies at the 2017 Texas Life Science Forum hosted by the RICE University in Houston, November 7, 2017.