A coupled mathematical and numerical model for protein spreading and tissue atrophy, applied to Alzheimer's disease

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Pederzoli, Valentina, Corti, Mattia, Riccobelli, Davide, Antonietti, Paola F.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Pederzoli, Valentina
Corti, Mattia
Riccobelli, Davide
Antonietti, Paola F.
author_facet Pederzoli, Valentina
Corti, Mattia
Riccobelli, Davide
Antonietti, Paola F.
contents The aim of this paper is to introduce, analyse and test in practice a new mathematical model describing the interplay between biological tissue atrophy driven by pathogen diffusion, with applications to neurodegenerative disorders. This study introduces a novel mathematical and computational model comprising a Fisher-Kolmogorov equation for species diffusion coupled with an elasticity equation governing mass loss. These equations intertwine through a logistic law dictating the reduction of the medium's mass. One potential application of this model lies in understanding the onset and development of Alzheimer's disease. Here, the equations can describe the propagation of misfolded tau-proteins and the ensuing brain atrophy characteristic of the disease. To address numerically the inherited complexities, we propose a Polygonal Discontinuous Galerkin method on polygonal/polyhedral grids for spatial discretization, while time integration relies on the theta-method. We present the mathematical model, delving into its characteristics and propose discretization applied. Furthermore, convergence results are presented to validate the model, accompanied by simulations illustrating the application scenario of the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2412_19661
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A coupled mathematical and numerical model for protein spreading and tissue atrophy, applied to Alzheimer's disease
Pederzoli, Valentina
Corti, Mattia
Riccobelli, Davide
Antonietti, Paola F.
Numerical Analysis
The aim of this paper is to introduce, analyse and test in practice a new mathematical model describing the interplay between biological tissue atrophy driven by pathogen diffusion, with applications to neurodegenerative disorders. This study introduces a novel mathematical and computational model comprising a Fisher-Kolmogorov equation for species diffusion coupled with an elasticity equation governing mass loss. These equations intertwine through a logistic law dictating the reduction of the medium's mass. One potential application of this model lies in understanding the onset and development of Alzheimer's disease. Here, the equations can describe the propagation of misfolded tau-proteins and the ensuing brain atrophy characteristic of the disease. To address numerically the inherited complexities, we propose a Polygonal Discontinuous Galerkin method on polygonal/polyhedral grids for spatial discretization, while time integration relies on the theta-method. We present the mathematical model, delving into its characteristics and propose discretization applied. Furthermore, convergence results are presented to validate the model, accompanied by simulations illustrating the application scenario of the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
title A coupled mathematical and numerical model for protein spreading and tissue atrophy, applied to Alzheimer's disease
topic Numerical Analysis
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.19661