Grant: Catalyst Grant: Secondary Analysis of Neuroimaging Databases

Approximately 500 000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer's disease (AD). These individuals may have difficulty remembering their loved ones, managing their finances, or performing everyday activities such as getting dressed and making breakfast. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease because it is not possible to repair the brain tissues that are progressively damaged in this disorder. As a result, the newest research focuses on ways to identify this devastating illness early on so that degeneration can be prevented and symptoms can be avoided. Non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have made it possible to see changes in brain structures that occur early on in the disease process, and there is some preliminary evidence that the earliest changes take place in the brain's connections. This project will use the largest database available to examine both tissue damage and functional changes in the brain's connections. By comparing MRIs from groups of healthy people to those who eventually develop Alzheimer's disease, it will be possible to determine whether these measures can be used as early indicators. The results will have the potential to improve early identification of Alzheimer's disease, so that preventative measures can be applied to spare Canadians from experiencing the ruinous effects of this degenerative disorder.