Genetics and Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Neurodegeneration in Latin America

To identify ethnic-specific dementia-related clinical and genetic correlates of commissural tracts and the potential mediating role of grey matter structures in Latin American and European individuals.

Our research seeks to unravel how genetics shapes brain structures and cognition, specifically in the Latin American population. Using novel genetic tools and multi-OMICs approaches, we will dive into the biological consequences of the genetic effects, and will identify unique biomarkers that can guide personalized strategies in Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias health care, tailored for Latinos. The outcomes of this research could lead to early detection tools and personalized health interventions to promote better brain health and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

Our study will advance the knowledge and resources available for research of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) in underrepresented populations, by studying, for the first time, genetic, clinical, and neuroimaging correlates of ADRD, specific to the Latin American (LATAM) individuals.

Moreover, we will create a novel dataset of LATAM participants with clinical, genetic and neuroimaging data from AD and FTD cases and controls, to advance future research in the field. It will include OMICs data (genomics, epigenomics and transcriptomics) from post mortem brain tussue.

The outcomes of our study will contribute to improving the molecular, clinical, and neuroimaging characterization of ADRD in Latin America, for a more comprehensive understanding of the disease development.

In addition, our identified candidate biomarkers could be further validated for clinical purposes, like early risk identification, prediction, and prognosis of the disease, as well as serve as clinical trial biomarkers, targeted for the LATAM population.