Abstract #3574

Alterations of Resting State Networks in Dementia: Reduction of Functional Integrity and Compensatory Mechanisms

Gloria Castellazzi¹,², Fulvia Palesi,²³, Stefano Casali,²⁴, Egidio Ugo D'Angelo,²⁵, Claudia Angela M. Wheeler-Kingshott⁶

¹Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy; ²Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS C. Mondino, Pavia, PV, Italy; ³Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy; ⁴Department of Psychology, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy; ⁵Public Health, Neuroscience, Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy; ⁶NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, England, United Kingdom

In this study we assess, by means of resting state fMRI, which resting state networks (RSN) are interested by the Alzheimer's disease (AD) at different stages. In particular we investigated the possible dynamics of corruption of the RSNs when comparing AD subjects with patients affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy controls. We confirmed changes in specific RSNs that are indicative of neurodegeneration. Moreover we found RSNs alterations involving the cerebellum, which could have a compensatory meaning (abnormal recruitments of neurons) leading to increase activity in specific cerebro-cortical areas, along with the worsening of the pathology.