Research summary
As we age, the signalling of our brain cells changes substantially. Deviations from this healthy trajectory occur in age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Alexander Wiesman, Canada Research Chair in Neurophysiology of Aging and Neurodegeneration, aims to improve our understanding of healthy age-related neurophysiological trajectories.
He and his research team are using an innovative combination of functional and structural brain imaging and non-invasive brain stimulation to shed light on how brain cells change as we age. They are also exploring how brain activity and risk factors relate to atlases of the brain’s chemical messenger systems in order to better understand their mechanisms. Ultimately, Wiesman’s findings will lead to new diagnostics, prognostics and non-invasive therapeutics for age-related neurodegenerative disorders.