inAGE – imaging neuroscience of ageing

Short description

inAGE is an imaging neuroscience laboratory dedicated to the study of brain structure and function across the lifespan. We develop and apply non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging to advance knowledge in brain health maintenance, early diagnosis of neurodegeneration and mechanisms governing brain plasticity. Our research has a specific focus on cognitive decline due to microvascular and degenerative pathology. inAGEs main goal is to translate research findings into clinical applications for prevention, early diagnosis of brain diseases and for prediction of clinical outcome. 

Research focus

• Lifespan trajectories
• Cognition
• Affective function
• Motor function
• Exposome
• Brain plasticity

Ongoing Projects

• Hippocampal Plasticity induced by ECT treatment for pharmaco-resistant depression (SNF)
• BRAINTREE Brain age prediction - Diagnostic method or reconceptualizing age? (ERA-NET Neuron)
• Brain plasticity in Trisomy 21 patients undergoing GnRH therapy – (IICT-SNF)
• Swiss brAIn Health – Innosuisse Flagship Project (Innosuisse with co-PI T. Nef)

Key publications

• Bussy A, Cathala C, Carneiro F, Kherif F, Lutti A, Draganski B. White matter microstructure fingerprint of cerebral small vessel disease. Brain. 2026 Jun. doi: 10.1093/brain/awag200
• Garo-Pascual M, Frank D, Ramponi C, Draganski B. Defining 'successful' episodic memory ageing: Implications of methodological heterogeneity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2026 Jul. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106707
• Ramponi C, Gyger L, Swierkosz-Lenart K, Latypova A, Bracht T, DiDomenicantonio G, Colla M, Mall JF, von Gunten A, Lutti A, Strippoli MF, Preisig M, Kherif F, Draganski B. Neural signatures of major depression across the episodic memory circuitry. J Affect Disord. 2026 Aug 15. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121820
• Schrempft S, Trofimova O, Künzi M, Ramponi C, Lutti A, Kherif F, Latypova A, Vollenweider P, Marques-Vidal P, Preisig M, Kliegel M, Stringhini S, Draganski B. The Neurobiology of Life Course Socioeconomic Conditions and Associated Cognitive Performance in Middle to Late Adulthood. J Neurosci. 2024 Apr. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1231-23.2024.
• Manfredi-Lozano M, Leysen V, Adamo M, Paiva I, Rovera R, Pignat JM, Timzoura FE, Candlish M, Eddarkaoui S, Malone SA, Silva MSB, Trova S, Imbernon M, Decoster L, Cotellessa L, Tena-Sempere M, Claret M, Paoloni-Giacobino A, Plassard D, Paccou E, Vionnet N, Acierno J, Maceski AM, Lutti A, Pfrieger F, Rasika S, Santoni F, Boehm U, Ciofi P, Buée L, Haddjeri N, Boutillier AL, Kuhle J, Messina A, Draganski B, Giacobini P, Pitteloud N, Prevot V. GnRH replacement rescues cognition in Down syndrome. Science. 2022 Sep 2. doi: 10.1126/science.abq4515.

Sources of Funding

• Swiss National Science Foundation
• EU ERA-NET
• InnoSuisse