New research investigates the potential of a neurobiological model to predict future dementia diagnosis by analyzing the brain’s default-mode network (DMN). Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and disruption in the functional connectivity of the DMN is a known indicator.
The researchers used spectral dynamic causal modeling (DCM) on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Spectral DCM is a technique for assessing the effective connectivity between different brain regions. Resting-state fMRI involves measuring brain activity while a person is not engaged in any specific task.
The data for this study came from the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database and research resource. The researchers compared 81 individuals who were eventually diagnosed with dementia within nine years of the fMRI scan to a control group of 1,030 matched participants.
The analysis revealed that the presence of dysconnectivity, or abnormal connections, within the DMN predicted both the likelihood of developing dementia in the future and the time it took to receive a diagnosis. This method outperformed models that relied solely on brain structure or standard functional connectivity analysis.
Overall, the study suggests that spectral DCM analysis of resting-state fMRI data has the potential to be a valuable tool for the early detection of dementia. This approach may help to identify individuals at risk for dementia before they develop symptoms, allowing for earlier intervention and improved patient outcomes.
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