Lifecourse Epidemiology and Geroscience agenda (LEGend)
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In the coming decades, the growing number of older people will challenge our healthcare system due to the increase in age-related healthcare utilization. More importantly, aging and its associated diseases contribute to loss of functional capacity, both physical and mental, and a reduction in quality of life.
Vision en mission
LUMC’s Lifecourse Epidemiology and Geroscience aims to leverage education and scientific knowledge based on development, growth and aging to develop and implement innovative solutions that promote a longer and healthier life course and a better quality of life from childbearing women and our youngest patients to the aging society. To reach our goals, we will combine our state of the art science, both fundamental and clinical, aimed at improving outcomes for our patients and their carers. For more information, news and upcoming events, please visit the LEGend website!
Increase the healthy life span
Lifecourse epidemiology studies the role of long-term physical, psychological or socio-behavioral capacities and the effect of experiences around conception, during pregnancy, in child development and early adult life on health and disease later in life. Geroscience is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to define the biological mechanisms of aging that give rise to a spectrum of age-related phenotypes, diseases, and disorders.
Together, Lifecourse Epidemiology and Geroscience leverage the understanding of the biology of age-related changes that occur throughout the entire life span, and in the circle of life spanning generations, to improve prevention and treatment strategies to increase the healthy life span of younger and older individuals and assist our aging society.
…Lifecourse epidemiology studies the role of long-term physical, psychological or socio-behavioral capacities and the effect of experiences around conception, during pregnancy, in child development and early adult life on health and disease later in life. Geroscience is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to define the biological mechanisms of aging that give rise to a spectrum of age-related phenotypes, diseases, and disorders.
Together, Lifecourse Epidemiology and Geroscience leverage the understanding of the biology of age-related changes that occur throughout the entire life span, and in the circle of life spanning generations, to improve prevention and treatment strategies to increase the healthy life span of younger and older individuals and assist our aging society.
The huge impact of the bio-psycho-social context during pregnancy and in early life on health later in life is increasingly being unraveled. Societies face a tremendous challenge to optimize this context and the health of future generations. Moreover, in the coming decades, the growing number of older people will challenge our healthcare system due to the increase in age-related healthcare utilization. More importantly, aging and its associated diseases contribute to loss of functional capacity, both physical and mental, and a reduction in quality of life.
“Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
About us
Theme Chair: Prof. Dr. Eline Slagboom 
Eline Slagboom is a biologist by training, head of Molecular Epidemiology and chair of the Dutch Society for Research on Aging (DuSRA). She is dedicated to molecular-based research into human aging and preventative measures against age-related diseases for over 25 years. She focuses on three interconnected topics: genetic and genomic studies into the etiology of aging and its heterogeneity, biomarker studies to predict vulnerability in older age, and intervention studies (lifestyle, clinical) for those at risk.
Theme Co-chair: Prof. Dr. Simon Mooijaart 
Simon Mooijaart is an internist-geriatrician and chair of the sub-department of Gerontology and Geriatrics. As a physician, his research focuses on developing and delivering evidence-based, appropriate care to older patients with various diseases to improve results. He initiated and leads several clinical studies and consortia in older patients with cancer, renal disease, thyroid dysfunction, COVID-19, and in the Emergency Department.
Theme Co-chair: Dr. Jeroen de Bresser (Young faculty member) 
Jeroen de Bresser is a neuroradiologist and head of the Neuroradiology and Head and Neck Radiology department. His research focus is on the development and application of quantitative/ultra-high field (7T) brain MRI markers and the use of artificial intelligence models for the early prediction of the onset of diseases, such as dementia or stroke. He’s involved in and leads multiple national and international studies and consortia on brain imaging in cerebral small vessel disease, dementia, neuro-oncology, and NPSLE. As part of the Steering Committee, he’s also involved in developing new Dutch medical guidelines on cluster cognitive disorders and dementia.
Sub-themes
The theme Lifecourse Epidemiology and Geroscience is divided into five subthemes with LUMC research at the core of the theme. In the subtheme ‘Treating the older patients: aging with disease’, we integrate research to improve (cost-)effective care for older patients by applying Geroscientific knowledge on aging and disease. The subtheme ‘Supporting the health of the older individual: aging in the general population’ uses integrated research and education to improve the health, independence, and well-being of the older population. The subtheme ‘Etiology of aging and the lifecourse element in disease risk’ applies Geroscience mechanistic studies into the pathophysiology of age-changes and age-related (co)morbidity. The subtheme ‘Multi-dimensional biomarker development and implementation of Artificial Intelligence for vulnerability studies covering the life course, the aging population, and older patients’ aims to generate predictive and prognostic marker algorithms for risk assessment and monitoring treatment, and intervention response. In the subtheme ‘Education in Lifecourse epidemiology and Geroscience’ at the Leiden Age Campus, we offer education to the public, professionals, and PhD students. The Leiden Age Campus includes the theme’s graduate program, the Master of Vitality and Aging, and various residency programs where students can learn about state-of-the-art knowledge and science in Lifecourse and Geroscience. The Campus attracts and fosters talent for our research program.
Leaders of our sub-themes
Collaborations
There is a strong collaboration among LUMC researchers involved in Medicine for older people in the LUMC Center for Medicine for Older People (LCO): LUMC Centrum ouderengeneeskunde.