Department of Physics and Astronomy

PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY COLLOQUIUM

Dr. Habib Benali

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Concordia University

“Combining neuroimaging and mathematical modeling of the kinetics and spreading of Tau aggregates in the brain in Alzheimer disease”

ABSTRACT

Neurodegenerative diseases encompass a large scale of pathologies affecting the brain by slow and progressive neuronal death, causing dementia and motor deficits. Even if their causes remain uncertain, a major feature of those diseases is the presence of misfolded protein aggregates. Protein aggregation leads to formation of large inclusion bodies that are found within and/or outside of neurons. In vitro studies have described a common polymerization mechanism, called elongation-nucleation. More or less advanced polymerization complexes of those proteins can then spread into the brain networks in a “prion-like” manner, affecting the whole neuronal networks. That propagation mechanism can be quantified using multimodal imaging and modeling, in particular involving PET/MRI.

STUDENTS – after the talk, you’re encouraged to return to the 2nd floor Atrium lounge to meet with the speaker.

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