Spread of Dementia

Computer model of spread of dementia can predict future disease patterns years before they occur in a patient

March 22, 2012

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Brain fiber tracts shown in this image are used to obtain connectivity networks, whose diffusion dynamics model dementias. Colors represent the orientation of fibers. (Credit: Ashish Raj et al./Neuron)

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have developed a computer program that has tracked the manner in which different forms of dementia spread within a human brain.

They say their mathematical model can be used to predict where and approximately when an individual patient’s brain will suffer from the spread, neuron to neuron, of “prion-like” toxic proteins — a process they say underlies all forms of dementia.

Their findings could help patients and their families confirm a diagnosis of dementia and prepare in advance for future cognitive declines over time.

In the future — in an era where targeted drugs against dementia exist — the program might also help physicians identify suitable brain targets for therapeutic intervention, says the study’s lead researcher, Ashish Raj, Ph.D., an assistant professor of computer science in radiology at Weill Cornell Medical College./.../