Forgetting your self...

This projects aims to characterize the neural correlates of memory. First of all, Alzheimer’s disease and its prodromal stage mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are the focus of this project. We isolated their neural correlates by means of systematic and quantitative meta-analyses of imaging studies. Furthermore, we identified imaging markers predicting the conversion from MCI to Alzheimer’s disease. Now, we are proving hypotheses in our patient cohort with multimodal imaging (MRI & FDG-PET) and in the comprehensive longitudinal study LIFE at the University of Leipzig. This study explores predictors of conversion from MCI to Alzheimer’s disease in a large cohort of approximately 4,000 subjects during a 2.5 year period. Here, we will focus on the importance of social cognition and emotion comprehension for healthy and pathological aging by combining imaging (MRI, optical imaging) and genetic approaches (polymorphisms). Beside Alzheimer’s disease, heart attacks and resuscitation might lead to severe impairments of memory. Accordingly, another project explores the neural correlates of memory and executive/behavioral deficits in these disorders. Likewise, we are investigating neural networks and their interrelations duringunconsciousness due to anesthesia.