Impact of our Research

We have conducted a large number of studies using sophisticated forms of MRI scans to measure changes in the structure and function of the brain in people with or at risk for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body Disease, Cerebrovascular disease, or other conditions associated with cognitive or behavioral impairment. Through these studies, we have discovered new information about the effect of these brain diseases on circuits in the brain that control memory, language, executive function, visual spatial abilities, attention, emotional functions, and social behavior. We have also discovered what we call “disease signature” effects in the way these diseases affect certain brain regions and circuits but spare others. These changes in brain structure and function may be helpful in diagnosis, monitoring change over time, predicting future changes, and ultimately—we firmly believe—measuring the beneficial effects of treatments.

• Popal H, Quimby M, Hochberg D, Dickerson BC, Collins JA. Altered functional connectivity of cortical networks in semantic variant Primary Progressive Aphasia. Neuroimage Clin. 2020;28:102494. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102494.
• Bejanin A, Tammewar G, Marx G, Cobigo Y, Iaccarino L, Kornak J, Staffaroni AM, Dickerson BC, Boeve BF, Knopman DS, Gorno-Tempini M, Miller BL, Jagust WJ, Boxer AL, Rosen HJ, Rabinovici GD. Longitudinal structural and metabolic changes in frontotemporal dementia. Neurology. 2020 Jul 14;95(2):e140-e154. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009760.
• Ye R, Touroutoglou A, Brickhouse M, Katz S, Growdon JH, Johnson KA, Dickerson BC, Gomperts SN. Topography of cortical thinning in the Lewy body diseases. Neuroimage Clin. 2020 Jan 31;26:102196. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102196.