Understanding of brain aging by the imaging genetics cohort

Hirohisa Watanabe¹⁾, Epifanio Bagarinao²⁾, Gen Sobue²⁾

¹⁾Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University Hospital
²⁾Nagoya University, Brain and Mind Reserach Center

Visualization of anatomical and functional neural network changes with aging is essential in order to develop reliable imaging biomarker for very early diagnosis and breakthrough treatment of neurodegenerative dementia.　We have investigated the changes of the brain network in healthy subjects using resting-state functional MRI, diffusion tensor MRI, and 3D MPRAGE in combination with cognitive function, blood plasma, and genome data to clarify the natural history of functional and structural brain network alterations with aging and to explore the modifier gene and molecular pathways associated with neurodegenerative dementia.　In this review, we demonstrated the importance of imaging cohort and intrinsic dynamism of brain networks against aging.　We also discussed the future direction about the research of the relationship between brain networks and genomics.

Address correspondence to Dr. Hirohisa Watanabe, Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University Hospital（1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan）