CoCA: Comorbid Conditions of Attention deficit / hyperactive disorders

Summary

Comorbid conditions worsen the outcome of Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorders (ADHD) and have huge personal and societal healthcare impact. Mechanisms underlying the development of comorbidity are unknown, hampering prevention and treatment. Thus, the aim of this project is to: 1) establish degree and cost of comorbidity on the population level; 2) identify genetic factors determining the development of comorbidity and their interaction with environment, which can be used for lead identification and preventive measures; 3) study two candidate mechanisms, the dopamine system and circadian regulation and identify additional novel ones; 4) perform a clinical study targeting the two candidate mechanisms by lifestyle modification; 5) implement an m-Health tool to monitor treatment and communicate with patients; 6) use the generated data to obtain predictive biomarkers. To do that several approaches will be addressed: 1) epidemiology using extremely large population-based registries; 2) use of in silico and experimental genomic and biological analysis methods; 3) experimental medicine approaches and neuroimaging; 4) innovative m-Health approaches using smartphones; 5) RCT; 6) cross-validated machine learning methods for predictive models. The expected impact will be substantial in the fields of prevention and health promotion, clinical/social management of disease, and therapy development by determining genetic and environmental risk factors, candidate mechanisms for comorbidity that can lead to biomarkers and novel therapeutics. We conduct a trial that studies easy-to-implement lifestyle modifications enhanced by m-Health monitoring in a cost-effective, low-risk manner to be used by patients, which may well serve to prevent the development of comorbidity. Dissemination will target specific stakeholders, such as policy makers, the medical community, academic and commercial parties interested in therapy development, as well as public and private health care providers. We will already tightly include the patient organization ADHD-Europe from the start of the project.

CoCA oficial web stieA
PROFITH, a partner in the CoCA Project: http://coca-project.eu/about/partners/ugr/

Status

Study implementation. Funded period ranges from March 2016 to February 2021.

Funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 667302

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