This is an application for a Mentored Research Scientist Development Award. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), degeneration due to amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles occurs early in the entorhinal-hippocampal-subicular complex as well as in the olfactory bulb and tract. AD patients consistently show deficits in olfactory identification compared to age-matched controls, as do patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), who are thought to be in the preclinical stages of the illness. While progress is being made in understanding the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological basis of olfaction, there has been a lack of clinical studies examining the neural correlates of AD-related olfactory deficits. The primary goal of the current research project will be to examine the degree to which odorant-induced brain activation in olfactory-related brain regions can be used as a reliable index that differentiates mild AD patients, MCI patients, and healthy age-matched elders. To implement this goal, the proposed project will conduct an olfactory fMRI study. The focus will be on cross-sectional analyses of the fMRI response to odorants in olfactory-related brain regions. Ultimately, the clinical goal is to use differential odorant-induced activation profiles in MCI patients as an early diagnostic marker of AD. Such markers are critical for the development of effective treatments that can slow disease progression early in its course. The proposal provides for a staged training schedule designed to build on the candidate's background in neuropsychology and develop expertise in olfaction and neuroimaging, within a clinical research context. The career development activities and research plan capitalize on the resources of Columbia University to aid in achieving the candidate's long-term goal of becoming an independent investigator, focusing on early detection of psychiatric and neurological disease, limbic system functions, and brain imaging. In the training plan, he will receive expert mentorship in key areas, including psychophysics and neuroscience of olfaction, technical and theoretical aspect of fMRI, research design and quantitative methods, clinical assessment and diagnosis, and in the ethical treatment of patients and research conduct. This will be complemented by a comprehensive didactic program.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01AG021548-03
Application #
6926172
Study Section
National Institute on Aging Initial Review Group (NIA)
Program Officer
Molchan, Susan
Project Start
2003-09-30
Project End
2008-08-31
Budget Start
2005-09-01
Budget End
2006-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$123,773
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
Steffener, Jason; Tabert, Matthias; Reuben, Aaron et al. (2010) Investigating hemodynamic response variability at the group level using basis functions. Neuroimage 49:2113-22
Devier, Deidre J; Pelton, Gregory H; Tabert, Matthias H et al. (2009) The impact of anxiety on conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 24:1335-42
Tabert, Matthias H; Steffener, Jason; Albers, Mark W et al. (2007) Validation and optimization of statistical approaches for modeling odorant-induced fMRI signal changes in olfactory-related brain areas. Neuroimage 34:1375-90
Tabert, Matthias H; Manly, Jennifer J; Liu, Xinhua et al. (2006) Neuropsychological prediction of conversion to Alzheimer disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Arch Gen Psychiatry 63:916-24
Albers, Mark W; Tabert, Matthias H; Devanand, D P (2006) Olfactory dysfunction as a predictor of neurodegenerative disease. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 6:379-86
Tabert, Matthias H; Liu, Xinhua; Doty, Richard L et al. (2005) A 10-item smell identification scale related to risk for Alzheimer's disease. Ann Neurol 58:155-60