Virtual brain simulations reveal network-specific parameters in neurodegenerative dementias

Monteverdi, A.; Palesi, F.; Schirner, M.; Argentino, F.; Merante, M.; Redolfi, A.; Conca, F.; Mazzocchi, L.; Cappa, S.; Cotta Ramusino, M.; Costa, A.; Pichiecchio, A.; Farina, L.; Jirsa, V.; Ritter, P.; Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott, C.; D'Angelo, E.

doi:10.1101/2023.03.10.532087

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.03.10.532087

Virtual brain simulations reveal network-specific parameters in neurodegenerative dementias

Monteverdi, A.·Palesi, F.·Schirner, M.·Argentino, F.·Merante, M.·Redolfi, A.·Conca, F.·Mazzocchi, L.·Cappa, S.·Cotta Ramusino, M.·Costa, A.·Pichiecchio, A.·Farina, L.·Jirsa, V.·Ritter, P.·Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott, C.·D'Angelo, E.

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Abstract

IntroductionNeural circuit alterations lay at the core of brain physiopathology, and yet are hard to unveil in living subjects. Virtual brain modelling (TVB), by exploiting structural and functional MRI, yields mesoscopic parameters of connectivity and synaptic transmission. MethodsWe used TVB to simulate brain networks, which are key for human brain function, in Alzheimers disease (AD) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) patients, whose connectivity and synaptic parameters remain largely unknown; we then compared them to healthy controls, to reveal novel in vivo pathological hallmarks. ResultsThe pattern of simulated parameter differed between AD and FTD, shedding light on disease-specific alterations in brain networks. Individual subjects displayed subtle differences in network parameter patterns that significantly correlated with their individual neuropsychological, clinical, and pharmacological profiles. DiscussionThese TVB simulations, by informing about a new personalized set of networks parameters, open new perspectives for understanding dementias mechanisms and design personalized therapeutic approaches.

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Monteverdi, A., Palesi, F., Schirner, M., Argentino, F., Merante, M., Redolfi, A., Conca, F., Mazzocchi, L., Cappa, S., Cotta Ramusino, M., Costa, A., Pichiecchio, A., Farina, L., Jirsa, V., Ritter, P., Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott, C., D'Angelo, E.. 2023-03-10. Virtual brain simulations reveal network-specific parameters in neurodegenerative dementias. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.10.532087

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