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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
09:36
Human Neural Organoids for Studying Brain Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: June 28, 2019
Neurodegenerative diseases target large-scale human brain networks
William W Seeley1, Richard K Crawford, Juan Zhou
1Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. wseeley@memory.ucsf.edu
Neuron
|April 21, 2009
Summary
Neurodegenerative diseases selectively target distinct brain networks, impacting gray matter structure. This study reveals a link between functional connectivity and vulnerability in neurodegenerative syndromes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- Healthy brain development involves constructing large-scale neural networks.
- Neurodegenerative diseases are hypothesized to target these functional systems.
- Previous research lacked systematic testing in living humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically test if neurodegenerative diseases target specific functional brain networks in living humans.
- To investigate the relationship between intrinsic functional connectivity and gray matter structure.
- To determine if neural networks share a common fate in neurodegeneration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized network-sensitive neuroimaging techniques.
- Analyzed five distinct neurodegenerative syndromes.
- Examined gray matter volume correlations within functional networks in healthy individuals.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that five neurodegenerative syndromes cause atrophy within five distinct intrinsic functional connectivity networks.
- Established a direct link between intrinsic connectivity and gray matter structure.
- Observed tightly correlated gray matter volumes across nodes within each functional network in healthy individuals.
Conclusions:
- Human neural networks are characterized by synchronous baseline activity, a unified corticotrophic fate, and selective vulnerability to neurodegeneration.
- Findings support the hypothesis that neurodegenerative diseases target specific functional brain systems.
- Future research should explore network assembly during development and disease-related disruption.
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