Modeling the Relationship Between Age, Genetics, and White Matter Microstructures
Department
Mathematics and Statistics
Major
Applied Mathematics
Research Advisor
Olbricht, Gayla R.
Advisor's Department
Mathematics and Statistics
Funding Source
Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics via the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant #DMS-0636648 / #DMS-1148695 awarded to Brigham Young University (BYU).
Abstract
The human brain's structure can change with age and different health conditions. A genetic risk factor called the epsilon 4 (e4) allele of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene is linked with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and reduced brain health. This study investigates whether healthy individuals with the e4 allele exhibit specific brain structure differences. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to measure five different aspects of white matter structural integrity (e.g., fractional anisotropy) in seven different brain regions. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was performed to test for differences in white matter structures and e4 status while controlling for age. Additional statistical methods were employed to test for demographic differences by e4 status and to control the family-wise error rate across multiple tests. These results will enable researchers to better understand the association between the e4 risk factor, age, and white matter structural differences in specific brain regions.
Biography
Steven Giangreco is a junior in applied mathematics. He is the recording secretary for the S&T chapter's ACM SIG-Security and a member of the Cyber Defense Team (CDT). He is also an undergraduate researcher for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Allie Plunkis pursuing her B.S. in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Business at Missouri University of Science and Technology and is graduating in May 2017. She has been participating in undergraduate research for the Mathematics Department since August 2016. Active on campus, she is the president of Delta Omicron Lambda Service Organization, as well as a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and the Love Your Melon Campus Crew.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hall
Presentation Date
11 Apr 2017, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
Modeling the Relationship Between Age, Genetics, and White Matter Microstructures
Upper Atrium/Hall
The human brain's structure can change with age and different health conditions. A genetic risk factor called the epsilon 4 (e4) allele of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene is linked with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and reduced brain health. This study investigates whether healthy individuals with the e4 allele exhibit specific brain structure differences. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to measure five different aspects of white matter structural integrity (e.g., fractional anisotropy) in seven different brain regions. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was performed to test for differences in white matter structures and e4 status while controlling for age. Additional statistical methods were employed to test for demographic differences by e4 status and to control the family-wise error rate across multiple tests. These results will enable researchers to better understand the association between the e4 risk factor, age, and white matter structural differences in specific brain regions.
