Neuroscience

In vivo structural and molecular neuroimaging

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Group leader

Daniela Perani

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The research projects of the Unit include molecular neuroimaging with PET, structural and functional neuroimaging with MRI with the aim to investigate in vivo the pathophysiology of neurological diseases and the neural correlates of cognitive functions in the norm and in diseases. This is a complex research field allowing the measurement of functional and biochemical brain processes such as glucose metabolism, neurotransmission systems, the burden of pathology as amyloid and tau protein, and neuroinflammation.

The application of PET/MRI techniques provides evidence of the brain system anatomy, function and connectivity, of brain plasticity and reserve, and the effects of brain aging, particularly for the molecular PET imaging, we can obtain supportive features for the early and differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative dementias. The research Unit is part of several national and international multicentric projects and is part of European Networks of Excellence.