Brain functional compensation in the neurodegenerative diseases - evidence from dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease

In this talk I will present findings from our recent publication in Human Brain Mapping "Intra- and inter-network functional alterations in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment" where we found evidence of brain compensation in Parkinson's patients. Brain compensation is the process by which the brain reallocates neuronal resources from regions currently affected by neurodegeneration to regions considered healthy. Brain compensation is commonly reported as increases in functional brain connectivity or metabolism. In this investigation we presented evidence of brain compensation manifested as shifts from negative to positive synchronisations between the brain networks of Parkinson's patients. These correlation sign shifts raise other questions related to the functionality of the brain, which I will discuss.