Human brain structures in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases

We aim to determine whether neurodegenerative and mental diseases share a common mechanism for the development of the pathological changes in brain structures. Our research is focused on the morphological pathologies in human pineal gland (PG) and olfactory bulb (OB) associated with development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and schizophrenia (SC). In SC and AD, disturbances in the circadian rhythms and olfaction are common symptoms that may be seen as early indications of the main disease process. In this framework, the investigation of the PG (brain structure secreting circulating melatonin), and OB (a brain structure involved in olfaction) using X ray phase contrast Tomography (XPCT) will play a key role.