Prof. Dr. Michael Ewers

Primary research focus: Biomedical Neuroscience

Second research focus: Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience

Key words: Alzheimer's disease, neuroimaging, MRI, PET, networks, connectivity, resilience

Research methods: human MRI, molecular PET, Biostatistics

Brief research description: Our research focuses on the spreading of key pathologies in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the improvement of prediction tools. Specifically, we combine functional connectomics, myelin imaging and advanced molecular PET markers to model the spatiotemporal evolution of fibrillar tau and beta-amyloid. Our prediction models are tailored to enable precision-medicine guided patient-level prognosis of disease progression. Another research focus of our team centers on brain mechanisms underlying cognitive resilience in AD. Specifically, we examine the protective factors of the brain’s innate immune system along with functional network changes that alleviate cognitive decline.

Graduated GSN students: Dr. Nikolai Franzmeier, Dr. Lee Simon-Vermot

Selected publications:

Ewers M, Luan Y, Frontzkowski L, Neitzel J, Rubinski A, Dichgans M, Hassenstab J, Gordon BA, Chhatwal JP, Levin J, Schofield P, Benzinger TLS, Morris JC, Goate A, Karch CM, Fagan AM, McDade E, Allegri R, Berman S, Chui H, Cruchaga C, Farlow M, Graff-Radford N, Jucker M, Lee JH, Martins RN, Mori H, Perrin R, Xiong C, Rossor M, Fox NC, O'Connor A, Salloway S, Danek A, Buerger K, Bateman RJ, Habeck C, Stern Y, Franzmeier N; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network. Segregation of functional networks is associated with cognitive resilience in Alzheimer's disease Brain. 2021 Mar 16:awab112. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab112

Franzmeier N, Dewenter A, Frontzkowski L, Dichgans M, Rubinski A, Neitzel J, Smith R, Strandberg O, Ossenkoppele R, Buerger K, Duering M, Hansson O, Ewers M. For the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging & BioFINDER. "Patient-centered connectivity-based prediction of tau pathology spread in Alzheimer’s disease." Sci Adv. 2020 Nov 27;6(48):eabd1327. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abd1327.

Ewers M, Franzmeier N, Suárez-Calvet M, Morenas-Rodriguez E, Araque Caballero MÁA, Kleinberger G, Piccio L, Cruchaga C, Robles Y, Dichgans M, Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Trojanowski JQ, Shaw LM, Weiner MW, Haass C. Increased solubleTREM2 is associated with ameliorated cognitive and clinical decline in Alzheimer’s disease. Sci Transl Med. 2019 Aug 28;11(507). pii: eaav6221. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aav6221. 

Caballero MÁA, Suarez-Calvet M, Duering M, Franzmeier N, Benzinger T, Fagan A, Levin J, Dichgans M, Jack CR, Jucker M, Karch CM, Masters CL, Morris JC, Weiner M, Fox N, Rossor M, Lee JH, Salloway S, Danek A, Goate A, Schofield PR, Bateman R, Haass C, Ewers, M. White matter diffusion alterations precede symptom onset in autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease. Brain. 2018 Oct 1;141(10):3065-3080.

Franzmeier N, Duze E, Jessen F, Buerger K, Levin J, Duering M, Dichgans M, Haass C, Suarez-Calvet M, Fagan AM, Paumier K, Benzinger TL, Masters CL, Morris JC, Perneczky R, Janowitz D, Catak C, Wolfsgruber S, Wagner M, Teipel S, Kilimann I, Ramire A, Rossor M, Jucker M, Chhatwal J, Spottke A, Boecker H, Brosseron F, Falkai P, Fliessbach K, Heneka M, Laske C, Nestor P, Peters O, Fuentes M, Menne F, Priller J, Spruth EJ, Franke C, Schneider A, Kofler B, Westerteicher C, Speck O, Wiltfang J, Bartels C, Caballero MÁA, Metzger C , Bittner D, Weiner M, Lee JH, Salloway S, Danek A, Goate A, Schofield PR , Bateman R., Ewers M. Left frontal hub connectivity delays cognitive impairment in autosomal-dominant and sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Brain 2018; 141(4):1186-1200.