The Research Council of Norway, through the Age Research Programme, has supported a dementia project in Trondheim since 2003. The project " TrønderBrain" is a cooperation between several research groups at the University Hospital of Trondheim (St. Olav's Hospital) and the Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The project is also in close cooperation with the Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

The purpose of the project has several separate aspects:

• To explore the connection between genetic inheritance and the risk of developing dementia
• To elucidate the mechanisms leading to the development of dementia
• To find new or improved tools to aid the early and accurate diagnosis of dementia

Most genetic analyses will be carried out in Florida. The project has been approved as required under Norwegian law, and adheres to the Helsinki Declaration.