1. Cognitive Neuroscience and Dementia
Daniela Montaldi
Memory Research Unit

2. Dementia Dementia presents us with very specific challenges
Dementia by definition involves cognitive impairment (to comprehension, communication, memory etc.)
To understand and explore dementia we must explore and understand cognitive ageing
Determining onset is critical, and urgent (i.e., biomarkers)
Individuals deteriorate so research must address/reflect this change

3. Dementia
Cell
Mechanisms
Biomarkers
Genetics
Target identification

4. Dementia
Society
Neighborhoods
Social Policy
Nursing home care

5. Dementia Imaging Cognition Neurology Psychiatry Early detection
Biomarkers
Differential diagnosis
Phenotypes
Treatment monitoring

6. Dementia
Cell
Society
Imaging
Cognition
Neurology
Psychiatry

7. Cognitive Neuroscience (CN)
Dementia
Imaging
Cognition
Cognitive Neuroscience (CN)

8. CN approach to dementia research

9. CN approach to dementia research
Language
Memory
Emotion
Movement
Perception
Action
Communication
Executive
Attention
Social
Timing
Multi-modal

10. Detecting subtle memory deficits
Medial temporal Lobe

11. Detecting subtle memory deficits
Medial temporal Lobe
Mayes et al. 2007

12. Hippocampal structural integrity
Detecting subtle memory deficits
Medial temporal Lobe
MRI structural scanning can reveal damage to key memory structures like the Hippocampus
We can measure the extent of damage
New methods (DTI) now allow us to look at the microstructure in more detail- i.e. subtle changes
Need to be able to explore hippocampal subregions reliably
Mayes et al. 2007
Hippocampal structural integrity

13. Hippocampal behavioural challenge
Detecting subtle memory deficits
Medial temporal Lobe
Hippocampal behavioural challenge
Mayes et al. 2007
We have developed memory paradigms that specifically challenge the hippocampus
We have shown that these paradigms depend selectively on hippocampal integrity
These types of procedure can be good indicators of early and subtle memory change
Can we automate stimulus similarity rating?

14. Pupil dilation and eye movement memory indices
Detecting subtle memory deficits
Medial temporal Lobe
Eye-tracking reveals sensitive indicators of memory function
We can monitor memory strength
Hippocampal-specific function can be measured
Subtle memory correlates can be obtained without asking participants to explicitly remember
Mayes et al. 2007
Pupil dilation and eye movement memory indices

15. Modulation of hippocampal fMRI
Detecting subtle memory deficits
Medial temporal Lobe
Mayes et al. 2007
Modulation of hippocampal fMRI
We have identified an fMRI method of measuring spontaneous hippocampal encoding
This method targets the hippocampal–midbrain dopaminergic system
Therefore it might represent a very subtle and early source of memory impairment

16. Detecting subtle memory deficits
Medial temporal Lobe
Hippocampal behavioural challenge
Migo et al. 2009
& in press
Mayes et al. 2007
Modulation of hippocampal fMRI
Kafkas & Montaldi, 2012 & in press
Hippocampal structural integrity
Pupil dilation and eye movement memory indices
Kafkas & Montaldi
2011 & 2012

17. Dementia Cell Society EPS has potential role Detection/monitoring
Measurement
Modeling
Convergent methodologies
Assistive technology

18. Thank you!