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Abstract #3574

Alterations of Resting State Networks in Dementia: Reduction of Functional Integrity and Compensatory Mechanisms

Gloria Castellazzi1, 2, Fulvia Palesi, 23, Stefano Casali, 24, Egidio Ugo D'Angelo, 25, Claudia Angela M. Wheeler-Kingshott6

1Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy; 2Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS C. Mondino, Pavia, PV, Italy; 3Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy; 4Department of Psychology, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy; 5Public Health, Neuroscience, Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy; 6NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, England, United Kingdom

In this study we assess, by means of resting state fMRI, which resting state networks (RSN) are interested by the Alzheimer's disease (AD) at different stages. In particular we investigated the possible dynamics of corruption of the RSNs when comparing AD subjects with patients affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy controls. We confirmed changes in specific RSNs that are indicative of neurodegeneration. Moreover we found RSNs alterations involving the cerebellum, which could have a compensatory meaning (abnormal recruitments of neurons) leading to increase activity in specific cerebro-cortical areas, along with the worsening of the pathology.

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Keywords

abnormal activity affected aging analyses applied applying atrophy audience auditory best blue brain caused cerebellum cerebral characterize clinical clinicians cluster cognitive compensatory component components computational confirm connecting connectivity considered control controls corrected corruption cortex cortical decreased default dementia detail detect disease disorders dorsal dual engineering england evolution examination executive experimental family females findings frontal functional furthermore future gradual gradually great health healthy impairment implemented included increasing independent indicative industrial inferior institute integrity interpreted investigate investigated involving last library light lobe major maps mechanism mechanisms medicine melodic mental middle mild model mostly motor network networks neurological neurology ones orange orbital overall parametric part particular pathological pathology patients permutation permutations physics pole posterior potential protocol public queen recognized recruitments reduction regression resting revealed scanned score sense sensory separating severity software spatial square stages statistical statistically stream structural studies subject subjects superior system target threshold throughout underwent unit visual wheeler widespread worse worsening years