New EBRAINS open call project focuses on early diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies

The VIBRANT-DLB project, based at the Masaryk University (MU), aims to support earlier and more accurate diagnosis of dementia diagnostics of dementia with Lewy bodies - the second most common neurodegenerative disease, often misdiagnosed in its early stages.

DLB’s complex symptoms and overlap with other conditions make early detection difficult. Current neuroimaging tools often yield inconsistent results and fail to reflect individual variability in brain function. This project addresses those challenges by applying advanced computational brain modelling techniques.

Led by Principal Investigator Jan Fousek, from the Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University (CEITEC MU), the team will employ models of dopaminergic neuromodulation developed at the Institut de Neuroscience des Systèmes of the University of Marseille, integrating additional pathways linked to cognitive decline in DLB. The goal is to create personalised virtual brain twins that simulate the unique brain activity of individuals in early stages of the disease.

Using a dataset of 103 participants - including EEG, fMRI, and longitudinal data - the team will map dynamic brain connectivity patterns. Preliminary findings suggest specific brain network adaptations may help preserve executive function, even as other symptoms emerge.

This work advances precision medicine in neurodegenerative disease - with the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and enable tailored treatment approaches.