Welcome to the Villeneuve Lab

The Villeneuve Lab is interested in how the brain ages, with a specific focus on factors that modify the association between brain lesions and cognitive performance. Our research is motivated by the fact that more than 25% of older adults are considered cognitively normal despite the presence of beta-amyloid in their brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. This fact suggests that other factors interact with beta-amyloid to trigger cognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s disease. It also suggests that actions can be taken to prevent or postpone disease-related symptoms. The main focus of the Villeneuve Lab’s research is therefore to examine the factors that protect against, or worsen, the development of cognitive deficits in age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

We use a multi-tier approach that includes molecular PET imaging, MRI imaging, neuropsychological testing and genetics, combined with analytic tools such as deep learning, lasso regression and partial least squares regression.

Visit our research page to learn more about our ongoing projects.

 

Recent News

Villeneuve Lab at AAIC 2022
July 2022


Cherie, Jonathan, and Yara presented their latest research findings at Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2022.

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New Article from the Villeneuve Lab
July 2022


Cherie Strikwerda’s latest paper was published in JAMA Neurology.
Association of Elevated Amyloid and Tau Positron Emission Tomography Signal With Near-Term Development of Alzheimer Disease Symptoms in Older Adults Without Cognitive Impairment. [Papers]

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Healthy Brains Healthy Lives (HBHL) 2022
June 2022


Frédéric and Yara presented their research at HBHL 2022 research day at McGill University.

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Dr. Villeneuve as a Rising Star in Bio-Imaging in Quebec
June 2022


Dr. Villeneuve was selected as a Rising Star in Bio-Imaging in Quebec from RBIQ.
She gave a keynote lecture. [Lecture_link]

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Villeneuve Lab at RBIQ 2022
June 2022


RBIQ-QBIN 2022.
Frédéric, Jonathan, Ting, Yara, Sophie, and Bery presented their reserach finidngs at the RBIQ 2022 conference held in Sherbrooke.

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New Article from the Villeneuve Lab
September 2021


Julie Gonneaud’s latest paper was published in Nature Communications. Here, we developed a model that predicts brain age across the lifespan from resting state fMRI data using machine learning techniques. In the context of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD), our model revealed that the presymptomatic phase of autosomal dominant AD is characterized by accelerated functional brain aging. [Papers]

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Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2021
July 2021


All of us at the Villeneuve Lab enjoyed attending this year’s AAIC. Moreover, Marianne Chapleau and Cherie Strikwerda-Brown were in Denver to give talks on their recent work at the lab. [Presentations]

speaker at AAIC

Dr. Villeneuve receives CIHR project grant
July 2021


We are pleased to announce that Dr. Villeneuve received a 4-year project grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for the Development and validation of blood biomarkers for the detection of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.
Principal Investigator: Sylvia Villeneuve
Co-investigators: Simon Ducharme, Maiya Geddes, Judes Poirier, Nathan Spreng

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QBIN Scientific Days
March 2021


Villeneuve lab members Marianne, Cherie, Frédéric, and Hazal presented some of their recent work at this year’s Québec Bio-imaging Network Scientific Days. Many thanks to the organizing committee! [Posters]

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New Article from the Villeneuve Lab
February 2021


Theresa Köbe’s latest paper was just published in NeuroImage. In this study of the PREVENT-AD cohort, we found associations between changes in default-mode network connectivity and vascular risk factors. [Papers]

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More lab news here.