A recent paper entitled “Multifactorial causal model of brain (dis)organization and therapeutic intervention: Application to Alzheimer’s disease” by Dr. Yasser Iturria-Medina and colleagues of the MCIN was published in Science Direct.
In this article, we focus on describing the model and applying it at the population-based level for studying late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). By interrelating six different neuroimaging modalities and cognitive measurements, this model accurately predicts spatiotemporal alterations in brain amyloid-β (Aβ) burden, glucose metabolism, vascular flow, resting state functional activity, structural properties, and cognitive integrity. The results suggest that a vascular dysregulation may be the most-likely initial pathologic event leading to LOAD.
Highlights include:
- A multifactorial causal model (MCM) of brain (dis)organization and therapeutic intervention is proposed.
- Prediction of complex multifactorial alterations in Alzheimer’s disease, using six different neuroimaging modalities and the MCM.
- Identification of potential triggering pathological events and associated “epicenter” brain regions.
- Identification and characterization of direct multifactorial interactions, vulnerability, and influence level of each biological factor.
- Identification of optimum therapeutic strategies to stop/reverse disease.
Read the full paper HERE