The relationship between cognitive functioning and the cerebellum in dementia

 
   Lead Investigator:    Lynette Silva
   Institution      :    UT Southwestern
   E-Mail           :    Lynette.Silva@utsouthwestern.edu
   Proposal ID      :    462



   Proposal Description:
   Investigations in recent years have shown the cerebellum to be involved in a variety of cognitive functions. However, cerebellar structure and function in dementia has just begun to be investigated. Recent studies have demonstrated differences in patterns of cerebellar volume loss between patients with Alzheimer's dementia and those with dementia with Lewy bodies. However, there is a dearth of studies examining cerebellar differences in MCI or cerebellar volume loss in FTD. The primary aim of this investigation is to examine differences in cerebellar structure and its relationship with cognitive functioning between MCI, Alzheimer's dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, FTD, and those with normal cognitive functioning. It is hypothesized that the most significant volume loss will be found in FTD, given the extensive reciprocal connections between the frontal lobes and the cerebellum.