Maura Malpetti

Interests

I am interested in the study of neuropathology, biomarkers and clinical features of neurodegenerative diseases, with special interest in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

My work focuses on the application of neuroimaging techniques (multi-tracer PET and MRI) to investigate the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, in order to identify early diagnostic and prognostic markers.

To this end, I apply longitudinal statistical models and multimodal imaging analyses, with an interdisciplinary approach that integrates imaging and clinical data with fluid markers and post-mortem pathology.

My main projects focus on

i) characterising the predictive value of in vivo PET imaging for molecular pathology and inflammation in tauopathies;

ii) identifying novel clinically viable PET and fluid biomarkers in dementias;

iii) investigating the role of behavioural and brain changes in pre-symptomatic genetic frontotemporal dementia.

Research Focus

Equipment

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Neuropsychological testing

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)