Zoe Lai

How does neuroplasticity affect the entorhinal cortex of older adults across mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s disease dementia? How does neuroplasticity in the entorhinal cortex correlate to changes in episodic memory?

Started Nov. 1, 2023

Abstract or project description

Neuroplasticity is the ability of the nervous system to adapt its activity in response to stimuli by rearranging its structure, function, or connections. Understanding neuroplasticity is important for understanding the progression of mild to severe Alzheimer’s disease dementia. The entorhinal cortex (EC) is associated with the brain’s ability to navigate and to form memories. The entorhinal cortex also serves as a connector for information going in and out of the hippocampal formation. The hippocampal formation is crucial for memory. The purpose of this project is to explore how neuroplasticity affects the entorhinal cortex of older adults across mild, moderate and severe Alzheimer’s disease dementia. We will also explore how neuroplasticity in the entorhinal cortex correlates to changes in episodic memory. We will do this by analyzing publicly available UDS and neuropathological data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC). NACC is a large, centralized center for Alzheimer’s datasets, and collaborates with the National Institute of Aging’s (NIA’s) and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Research Centers (ADRC).