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Health Sciences; Medical Sciences; Engineering

Shady Rahayel

Investigating the development of dementia with Lewy bodies through sleep and computational imaging

Professeur sous octroi adjoint

Faculté de médecine - Département de médecine

shady.rahayel@umontreal.ca

Media

Shady Rahayel - Prix de la meilleure thèse de doctorat - Faculté des sciences humaines | UQAM

Entretien avec Shady Rahayel, neuropsychologue et chercheur, lauréat du Prix de la meilleure thèse de doctorat de la Faculté des sciences humaines de l’UQAM. Cette distinction lui a été décernée lors de la 9e édition de l’événement Les sciences humaines en tête et en fête, tenu le 17 mars 2021.

UQAM | Université du Québec à Montréal

Profile

Research expertise

Our group uses the latest advances in brain imaging and computational neuroscience to characterize the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to the development of dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease, identify predictive biomarkers of progression, and develop preventive treatments for these conditions. We are particularly interested in a sleep disorder known as isolated REM sleep behavior disorder.

education

  • 2023 — Stage postdoctoral — Neurosciences — Université McGill
  • 2020 — Stage postdoctoral — Médecine nucléaire — Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal
  • 2019 — PsyD PhD — Psychologie — Université du Québec à Montréal

For more information…

Affiliations and responsabilities

Research affiliations

Research units

Membre

Affiliated institutions

  • CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal – Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal (HSCM)

Teaching and supervision

Projects

Research projects

2024 - 2032

Réseau québécois de recherche sur le sommeil

Co-researchers : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: FRQS/Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRSQ)
Grant programs:
2025 - 2028

Glymphatic dysfunction as an early biomarker for Parkinson’s disease and related dementias

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: Société Parkinson Canada
Grant programs:
2024 - 2028

Étude de la neurodégénérescence associée à la démence à corps de Lewy par une approche de neuroimagerie computationnelle

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: FRQS/Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRSQ)
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-Bourse de chercheur-boursier : Junior 1
2024 - 2028

Étude de la neurodégénérescence associée à la démence à corps de Lewy par une approche de neuroimagerie computationnelle

Funding sources: FRQS/Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRSQ)
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-Établissement de jeunes chercheurs Juniors 1
2025 - 2027

Evaluation of neuromelanin-sensitive, quantitative susceptibility mapping and free water imaging as biomarkers of nigral dopaminergic dysfunction

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Grant programs:
2025 - 2027

Validate diffusion MRI biomarkers of early Parkinson’s disease: A multi-cohort study of free-water and cortical disarray measurement

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Grant programs:
2023 - 2026

Investigation of the white matter changes and development of prognostic markers in the early phases of dementia with Lewy bodies

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: Société Alzheimer du Canada
Grant programs:
2023 - 2025

Investigating white matter alterations to understand atrophy in prodromal Parkinson’s disease

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: Société Parkinson Canada
Grant programs:
2023 - 2024

Atrophie cérébrale dans le trouble comportemental en sommeil paradoxal et relation avec la maladie de Parkinson et la maladie d'Alzheimer

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Grant programs:
2023 - 2024

Atrophie cérébrale dans le trouble comportemental en sommeil paradoxal et relation avec la maladie de Parkinson et la maladie d'Alzheimer

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: Société Parkinson Canada
Grant programs:
2023 - 2024

Atrophie cérébrale dans le trouble comportemental en sommeil paradoxal et relation avec la maladie de Parkinson et la maladie d'Alzheimer

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: Société Alzheimer du Canada
Grant programs:
2023 - 2024

Don testamentaire CÉAMS – Parkinson : Volet pour Shady Rahayel

Lead researcher : Shady Rahayel
Funding sources: Fondation de l'Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal
Grant programs:

Outreach

Publications and presentations

Publications

Filiatrault M, Ayral V, Tremblay C, Haddad C, Daneault V, Pastor-Bernier A, Gagnon JF, Postuma RB, Dušek P, Mareček S, Varga Z, Klein JC, Hu MT, Arnulf I, Dodet P, Vidailhet M, Corvol JC, Lehéricy S; ICEBERG Study Group; Lewis S, Matar E, Ehgoetz Martens KA, Churchill L, Borghammer P, Knudsen K, Hansen AK, Arnaldi D, Orso B, Mattioli P, Roccatagliata L, RAHAYEL S. Estrogen-related receptor gene expression associates with sex differences in cortical atrophy in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder. Nat Commun. 2025 Oct 10;16(1):9016. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-63829-w. PMID: 41073384; PMCID: PMC12514017.

Haddad C, Daneault V, Ayral V, Filiatrault M, Pastor-Bernier A, Tremblay C, Boré A, Descoteaux M, Vo A, Gagnon JF, Postuma RB, Dusek P, Marecek S, Varga Z, Klein J, Hu MT, Lehéricy S, Arnulf I, Vidailhet M, Corvol JC; ICEBERG Study Group; RAHAYEL S. Free water predicts dementia with Lewy bodies in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Sep;21(9):e70570. doi: 10.1002/alz.70570. PMID: 40970479; PMCID: PMC12447249.

Ayral V, Pastor-Bernier A, Daneault V, Tremblay C, Filiatrault M, Haddad C, Gagnon JF, Postuma RB, Dušek P, Marecek S, Varga Z, Klein JC, Hu MT, Lehéricy S, Arnulf I, Vidailhet M, Corvol JC; ICEBERG Study Group; RAHAYEL S. Association of DTI-ALPS Glymphatic Index With Differential Phenoconversion in Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: A Multi-Cohort MRI Study. Neurology. 2025 Oct 7;105(7):e214042. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000214042. Epub 2025 Sep 16. PMID: 40956987; PMCID: PMC12456434.

Tremblay C, Pastor-Bernier A, Rheault F, Daneault V, Ayral V, Filiatrault M, Desaulniers L, Vo A, Gagnon JF, Postuma RB, Dusek P, Marecek S, Varga Z, Klein JC, Hu MT, Lehéricy S, Arnulf I, Dodet P, Vidailhet M, Corvol JC; ICEBERG Study Group; RAHAYEL S. Altered network efficiency in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder: A multicentric study. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Aug;21(8):e70574. doi: 10.1002/alz.70574. PMID: 40791089; PMCID: PMC12340432.

Joza S, Delva A, Tremblay C, Vo A, Filiatrault M, Tweedale M, Gagnon JF, Postuma RB, Dagher A, Klein J, Hu M, Dusek P, Marecek S, Varga Z, Taylor JP, O'Brien JT, Firbank M, Thomas A, Donaghy PC, Lehéricy S; Arnulf I; Vidailhet M, Corvol JC, Iceberg Study Group, Camicioli R, Chertkow H, Lewis S, Matar E, Ehgoetz Martens KA, Churchill L, Sommerauer M, Röttgen S, Borghammer P, Knudsen K, Hansen AK, Arnaldi D, Orso B, Mattioli P, Roccatagliata L, Monchi O, RAHAYEL S. Distinct brain atrophy progression subtypes underlie phenoconversion in isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder. EBioMedicine. 2025 Jul;117:105753. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105753. Epub 2025 May 29. PMID: 40447483; PMCID: PMC12177146.

RAHAYEL S, Goupil R, Genest DS, Lamarche F, Agharazii M, Ayral V, Tremblay C, Madore F. Lower estimated glomerular filtration rate relates to cognitive impairment and brain alterations. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2024 Nov 27;16(4):e70044. doi: 10.1002/dad2.70044. PMID: 39944593; PMCID: PMC11815220.

RAHAYEL S, Postuma R, Baril AA, Misic B, Pelletier A, Soucy JP, Montplaisir J, Dagher A, Gagnon JF. 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT Perfusion Signatures Associated With Clinical Progression in Patients With Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. Neurology. 2024 Feb;102(4):e208015. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000208015. Epub 2024 Feb 5. PMID: 38315966; PMCID: PMC10890831.

RAHAYEL S, Postuma RB, Gagnon JF. Cholinergic Nucleus 4 Degeneration in Isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder: One Piece of the Puzzle. Mov Disord. 2023 May;38(5):913-914. doi: 10.1002/mds.29400. PMID: 37303096.

RAHAYEL S, Tremblay C, Vo A, Misic B, Lehéricy S, Arnulf I, Vidailhet M, Corvol JC; ICEBERG Study Group; Gagnon JF, Postuma RB, Montplaisir J, Lewis S, Matar E, Ehgoetz Martens K, Borghammer P, Knudsen K, Hansen AK, Monchi O, Gan-Or Z, Dagher A; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Mitochondrial function-associated genes underlie cortical atrophy in prodromal synucleinopathies. Brain. 2023 Aug 1;146(8):3301-3318. doi: 10.1093/brain/awad044. PMID: 36826230; PMCID: PMC10393413.

RAHAYEL S, Tremblay C, Vo A, Zheng YQ, Lehéricy S, Arnulf I, Vidailhet M, Corvol JC; ICEBERG Study Group; Gagnon JF, Postuma RB, Montplaisir J, Lewis S, Matar E, Ehgoetz Martens K, Borghammer P, Knudsen K, Hansen A, Monchi O, Misic B, Dagher A. Brain atrophy in prodromal synucleinopathy is shaped by structural connectivity and gene expression. Brain. 2022 Sep 14;145(9):3162-3178. doi: 10.1093/brain/awac187. PMID: 35594873.

RAHAYEL S, Mišić B, Zheng YQ, Liu ZQ, Abdelgawad A, Abbasi N, Caputo A, Zhang B, Lo A, Kehm V, Kozak M, Yoo HS, Dagher A, Luk KC. Differentially targeted seeding reveals unique pathological alpha-synuclein propagation patterns. Brain. 2022 Jun 3;145(5):1743-1756. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab440. PMID: 34910119; PMCID: PMC9166565.

Disciplines

  • Neuroradiology
  • Neurology
  • Anatomy
  • Geriatrics
  • Psychiatry

Areas of expertise

  • Sleep and Sleep Disorders
  • Imagery (Characterization Tools)
  • Cerebral Atrophy
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Dementia
  • Cognitive Neuropsychology of Aging
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases (Aging)