Dokument: Structural and Microstructural Markers of PSP-specific Network Disruption
| Titel: | Structural and Microstructural Markers of PSP-specific Network Disruption | |||||||
| URL für Lesezeichen: | https://docserv.uni-duesseldorf.de/servlets/DocumentServlet?id=70989 | |||||||
| URN (NBN): | urn:nbn:de:hbz:061-20251014-164814-2 | |||||||
| Kollektion: | Dissertationen | |||||||
| Sprache: | Englisch | |||||||
| Dokumententyp: | Wissenschaftliche Abschlussarbeiten » Dissertation | |||||||
| Medientyp: | Text | |||||||
| Autor: | Querbach, Silja [Autor] | |||||||
| Dateien: |
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| Beitragende: | Prof. Dr. Caspers, Julian [Gutachter] Prof. Dr. Bellebaum, Christian [Gutachter] | |||||||
| Dewey Dezimal-Klassifikation: | 100 Philosophie und Psychologie » 150 Psychologie | |||||||
| Beschreibung: | Although recent progress in research has improved our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), an integrated model of the disease remains elusive. Large-scale brain network approaches have gained attention in accounting for the complex symptomatology of PSP; however, region-specific structural alterations continue to play a significant and complementary role.
This thesis investigated neuroanatomical atrophy patterns in PSP to extend the understanding of the structural substrates underlying its heterogeneous clinical presentation. Three studies were conducted to characterize PSP-specific gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) degeneration and to explore their associations with clinical manifestation. The overarching aim was to integrate focal atrophy patterns with large-scale brain network disruptions, thereby providing insight into the complex interplay between structural degeneration and symptom development in PSP. STUDY 1 utilized an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis to identify consistent GM atrophy across PSP cohorts relative to clinical differential diagnoses. Four convergent clusters were identified in the thalamus and midbrain, bilateral caudate nuclei, and insula. Notably, these regions are embedded within distributed large-scale networks, thereby supporting the hypothesis that PSP reflects a systems-based disorder rather than isolated regional damage. STUDY 2 assessed the diagnostic utility of the midbrain-to-pons ratio (MTPR), confirming its effectiveness as a structural biomarker for PSP. The findings further underscored the midbrain’s central role in the PSP pathology and suggested the potential utility of the MTPR as a longitudinal marker for disease monitoring. STUDY 3 identified extensive WM disconnections associated with core symptoms of PSP, encompassing both motor and cognitive domains, thereby providing evidence for widespread network-level disintegration. Additionally, a relation between the MTPR and WM pathology could be established. The presented studies underscore the critical role of both localized and network-level structural changes in PSP. The results reinforce the centrality of the midbrain as a pathological node for network-based models in the characterization of PSP pathogenesis. Taken together, this work contributes compelling evidence towards a more integrated understanding of the disease, thereby supporting the development of improved diagnostic strategies. | |||||||
| Lizenz: |  Dieses Werk ist lizenziert unter einer Creative Commons Namensnennung 4.0 International Lizenz | |||||||
| Fachbereich / Einrichtung: | Mathematisch- Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät » WE Psychologie | |||||||
| Dokument erstellt am: | 14.10.2025 | |||||||
| Dateien geändert am: | 14.10.2025 | |||||||
| Promotionsantrag am: | 04.06.2025 | |||||||
| Datum der Promotion: | 07.10.2025 |
