Inverse mathematical modeling of solute transport in the human brain

Abstract

Most forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, are incurable and their causes are not properly understood. In recent years, it has been suggested that the cerebrospinal fluid, a water-like fluid that surrounds the brain, may play a crucial role in the development of various types of dementia. According to this idea, the cerebrospinal fluid enters and leaves the brain and thereby clears it from waste molecules. The physical mechanisms, by which this occurs, are still not understood. In my thesis, I have used and developed mathematical tools to gain more insight about these mechanisms. First, I have performed simulations and compared them to special magnetic resonance images from the Rikshospitalet in Oslo. This allows to test different ideas about how molecules move in and out of the brain. It is found that this happens faster than by diffusion alone. This supports the notion that additional processes play a significant role. Second, I have tested and developed new mathematical methods that simplify the simulation workflow. This will help researchers to gain more insight into the human brain via simulations in the future.