CHeBA Annual Report 2020

Page 18

Neuroimaging The Neuroimaging Group is dedicated to researching the ageing of the human brain. By studying neuroimaging modalities, we aim to improve understanding of brain ageing pathways, which in turn will lead to clinical advances in prediction, diagnosis and treatment. We are interested in computational neuroanatomy: the development of a comprehensive structural and functional model of the brain. Our neuroimaging studies address normal ageing, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Group Leader: Associate Professor Wei Wen

Chao Dong, Professor Wei Wen, Dr Jing Du, Dr Rebecca Koncz, Dr Matt Paradise, Dr Jiyang Jiang

Staff: Dr Jiyang Jiang, Kelvin Lau, Yue Liu Students: Heidi Foo, Abdullah Alqarni, Dr Jing Du, Chao Dong

New Rating Scale Developed to Quantify Cerebrovascular Damage Research led by Dr Matt Paradise has developed a rating scale to better understand the effects of certain aspects of cerebrovascular disease and its association with dementia, with findings published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences. The research, which assessed 414 community dwelling older adults aged between 70 and 90 found that perivascular spaces are a common MRI finding in the elderly. Perivascular spaces surround small blood vessels as they penetrate into the brain tissue. They have a normal physiological role in homeostasis of the cerebral environment, including draining of tissue fluid and removal of toxins. With improved imaging technology and better resolution of MRI, they are increasingly seen in routine scans, particularly when dilated. Dilation of perivascular spaces may be due to a number of pathological processes including hypertension, obstruction, inflammation and atrophy. They are also a feature of small vessel disease –

cerebrovascular disease affecting small blood vessels. Currently, there is no widely used rating scale for perivascular spaces and the researchers found poor inter-rater reliability when using existing scales. As such, they developed a visually rated Dr Matt Paradise perivascular space scale, based on the number of perivascular spaces in two representative slices, where they are likely to occur. The new rating scale is easy to use, quick, has good psychometric properties and performs better than existing scales in community dwelling older individuals. Perivascular spaces may turn out to be a useful biomarker of cerebrovascular disease and help inform dementia diagnosis and treatment in the future. DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2019.116621

We extend our thanks to the Josh Woolfson Memorial Scholarship for part-funding this project.

Measuring Complexity of the Brain An international collaboration between CHeBA’s Neuroimaging Group and Beihang University in China, published in Neurobiology of Aging, researched differential longitudinal changes in structural complexity and volumetric measures in community-dwelling older individuals. The research analysed the brain scans of community-dwelling older individuals aged 70-90 without dementia, using data from CHeBA’s Sydney Memory and Ageing Study. 18

Researchers discovered that a measure of ‘complexity’ of the brain is more sensitive to brain changes over time than more conventional measures such as cortical thickness or cortical volumes. Findings could provide a useful measure for future brain morphological and cognitive studies. DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.02.023

We extend our thanks to the J Holden Family Foundation for part-funding this project.


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Appendix H: Conference Presentations

13min
pages 104-105

Appendix G: Publications

49min
pages 98-103

Appendix C: Postgraduate Students

6min
pages 90-91

Current Projects

1hr
pages 54-83

Appendix B: External Appointments

9min
pages 87-89

Completed Projects

1min
pages 84-85

CHeBA Collaborators

6min
pages 50-53

Public Forums

2min
pages 45-46

Major Supporters

3min
pages 47-49

CHeBA Visiting Lecture Series

1min
page 44

CHeBA in the Media

1min
page 43

The Brain Dialogues

2min
page 42

CHeBA Publication Awards

4min
pages 37-39

InThisTogether

1min
pages 40-41

Sydney Memory & Ageing Study

6min
pages 30-31

PhD Research Features

5min
pages 34-36

Maintain Your Brain

2min
page 32

Older Australian Twins Study

2min
page 29

Sydney Centenarian Study

3min
page 28

SHARED

1min
pages 26-27

COSMIC

4min
pages 22-23

STROKOG

4min
pages 24-25

Neuropsychology

2min
pages 18-19

COGNISANCE

5min
pages 20-21

Neuropsychiatry

1min
page 17

Neuroimaging

2min
page 16

Genetics & Epigenomics

3min
pages 14-15

Brain Ageing Research Laboratory

2min
page 13

Research Grant to Fund Major Advance in Fight Against Dementia

2min
page 6

Effects of Alcohol Greatest in Three Key Periods

1min
pages 10-11

Co-Directors' Report

4min
pages 2-3

Metformin Treatment Linked to Slowed Cognitive Decline

1min
page 9

People Aged 95+ Show Greater Brain Connectivity

1min
page 7

Certain Memory Complaints Predict Future Dementia

1min
page 8

About the Centre

2min
pages 4-5
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