Approved research

Brain Shape Analysis from very Large Datasets

Lay summary

An extensive study of the brain anatomy could lead to powerful biomarkers to detect brain diseases affecting the brain shape. The UK Biobank initiative offers a unique opportunity to build for the first time a truly extensive study of the brain over a significantly large cohort. Our proposal is threefold: (1) to identify possible methodological bottlenecks in processing very large datasets of brain images, (2) to provide a new state-of-the-art statistical atlas across ages and populations, and (3) to further study possible links between brain anatomy and biological criteria, such as age, gender, and other factors. The study of the brain anatomy, with its variation across ages and populations, is key for establishing a precise characterization of normal evolutions in healthy subjects. Any deviation from such established standard is a possible risk indicator, for instance, of the Alzheimer?s disease. Research on building and exploiting statistical atlases from very large datasets potentially improves diagnostics and follow-ups in brain diseases affecting the brain shape. A statistical atlas will be built using the neuro images from the UK Biobank participants. The average shape of the brain, and its variations, will be studied by considering possible links with several biological criteria, such as age, gender, and other factors. Full cohort.