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
| 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] |
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| 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. |
