Fingerprints of brain disease: connectome identifiability in Alzheimer's disease

Sara Stampacchia*, Saina Asadi, Szymon Tomczyk, Federica Ribaldi, Max Scheffler, Karl-Olof Lövblad, Michela Pievani, Aïda B. Fall, Maria Giulia Preti, Paul G. Unschuld, Dimitri Van De Ville, Olaf Blanke, Giovanni B. Frisoni, Valentina Garibotto, Enrico Amico*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Functional connectivity patterns in the human brain, like the friction ridges of a fingerprint, can uniquely identify individuals. Does this "brain fingerprint" remain distinct even during Alzheimer's disease (AD)? Using fMRI data from healthy and pathologically ageing subjects, we find that individual functional connectivity profiles remain unique and highly heterogeneous during mild cognitive impairment and AD. However, the patterns that make individuals identifiable change with disease progression, revealing a reconfiguration of the brain fingerprint. Notably, connectivity shifts towards functional system connections in AD and lower-order cognitive functions in early disease stages. These findings emphasize the importance of focusing on individual variability rather than group differences in AD studies. Individual functional connectomes could be instrumental in creating personalized models of AD progression, predicting disease course, and optimizing treatments, paving the way for personalized medicine in AD management.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1169
Number of pages16
JournalCommunications Biology
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Sept 2024

Bibliographical note

© 2024. The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Alzheimer Disease/diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Connectome
  • Aged
  • Brain/diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Female
  • Cognitive Dysfunction/physiopathology
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Disease Progression
  • Middle Aged

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