Dr. Sananbenesi investigates the interplay of environmental and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of brain diseases. One line of research addresses the question why for example neuropsychiatric diseases such as post-traumatic stress disorder increase the risk to develop  dementia at old age.  The identification of biomarker for early detection of neurodegenerative diseases is another key aspect of her research. This approach is motivated by the hypothesis that even already available therapeutic approaches will be effective when applied at an early stage of the disease to well-stratified patients. The analysis of circulating small non coding RNAs is one promising line of research in this endeavor.