Mapping Brain Connectivity Changes in Alzheimer’s Disease

We aim to map key brain changes that contribute to the prodromal phase of AD-related pathogenesis.

We aim to identify brain regions and cell types to target in order to slow or prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease before symptom onset. We have identified a change in the retrosplenial cortex that occurs early in AD pathogenesis, and next plan to verify these results in a different rodent model and explore the functional consequences of chemogenetically inhibiting these cells. Our goal is to use these data to identify biomarkers of early AD, and potentially circuit targets for future AD therapeutics.

Little is known about how connectivity changes during AD-related disease, and even less is known what changes occur early on. We also do not know where AD-related pathogenesis begins. Our research will enable us to define these early changes and causally demonstrate their role in disease.

We would like to be able to identify at-risk patients before they develop AD. Our work will mark changes in identified brain cells, providing potential biomarkers to identify at risk patients as well as targets for improved therapeutic interventions.