Unravelling White Matter Biological Heterogeneity for the Prediction of AD

Objective

White matter (WM) is being increasingly studied in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as a possible key pathological driver. In-vivo, WM health can be measured through several metrics derived from diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). While these metrics provide information about the WM micro- and macro-structural alterations, the biological processes determining such changes is often unclear. Characterizing these biological pathways is crucial for a more refined use of MRI in the clinics and for building accurate disease models for individualized prediction. In this work, we will use several cohorts covering the AD spectrum with both available MRI and biological data (genetics, proteomics). We will first perform a characterization of the biological pathways that provoke WM dysfunction in different stages of AD. Subsequently, we will use this information to build data-driven models of disease progression and spreading. Finally, we will test the applicability of these models in data from memory clinics.