10+ years of research in medical imaging. 80+ indexed papers, director of two PhD thesis.
EDUCATION
MD, computer scientist (honors), MSc in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering and technological-based business administration.
PhD (extraordinary award).
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Neuroimaging
102
Scopus Publications
3005
Scholar Citations
29
Scholar h-index
65
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
The profiling of extracellular vesicle subtypes in Huntington’s disease brains identifies Alix as a novel marker of neuropathology Rocío Pérez-González, Anna Vázquez-Oliver, Nil Salvat-Rovira, Saül Martínez-Horta, Elisa Rivas-Asensio, et al. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 2026 Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is the most frequent autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, which is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene. Despite its well-defined genetic origin, there is currently no cure, and reliable biomarkers for disease progression and pathophysiology remain limited. Mutant huntingtin protein accumulates in endosomal compartments, disrupting endosomal trafficking and potentially affecting the biogenesis, release, and cargo of exosomes–extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the endosomal pathway. However, the role of exosomes in HD pathogenesis and their potential as biomarkers has been underexplored. In this work, we investigated whether the levels and content of small EV subpopulations, including exosomes, are altered in the brains of HD patients. Methods We analyzed two distinct subpopulations of small EVs from the striatum and cortex of postmortem HD brains at early and advanced neuropathological stages, as well as from age-matched controls. EVs were isolated by differential ultracentrifugation and high-resolution iodixanol density gradient centrifugation, and analyzed by Western blotting, electron microscopy, NTA, and proteomics using mass spectrometry. EV secretion was also analyzed in primary fibroblasts derived from HD patients and healthy controls. Results Mass spectrometry data revealed HD-associated alterations in EV protein content, particularly proteins related to the endosomal system. Our data also indicate that the level of ectosomes increased in the HD cortex, whereas exosomes were reduced in the HD striatum compared to controls. In terms of EV content, EVs from HD brains showed increased levels of Annexin A2 and decreased levels of Alix, a key component of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT). Alix depletion in EVs mirrored a progressive reduction of Alix in brain tissue, correlating with disease severity based on Vonsattel staging. In vitro, HD fibroblasts secreted EVs with reduced Alix content, despite no significant difference in cellular Alix levels compared to controls. Conclusions These findings highlight disease-specific changes in EV populations and cargo in HD, and identify Alix as a potential neuropathological marker. This study advances our understanding of the role of brain-derived EVs in HD and underscores their potential utility in biomarker discovery.
Spontaneous speech and language measures as predictive biomarkers of clinically meaningful disease progression and neurodegeneration in Huntington’s disease Arnau Puig-Davi, Carla Franch-Marti, Lara Caler-Gameiro, Jesus Perez-Perez, Gonzalo Olmedo-Saura, et al. Journal of Neural Transmission, 2026 Huntington’s disease (HD) is characterized by heterogeneous rates of clinical progression, complicating patient monitoring and clinical trial design. Although speech and language alterations are increasingly recognized as part of the HD cognitive phenotype, their value as short-term prognostic biomarkers of clinically meaningful disease progression and neurodegeneration remains unestablished. In this prospective 12-month longitudinal study, we investigated whether objectively quantified spontaneous speech and language measures predict short-term clinically meaningful progression and relate to biomarkers of neurodegeneration in HD. Eighty-six participants (42 manifest HD, 24 premanifest gene carriers, and 20 healthy controls) underwent baseline spontaneous speech assessment, structural MRI, and plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) quantification. Clinically meaningful worsening was defined using validated minimal clinically important difference thresholds in the composite Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale (cUHDRS). Spontaneous speech and language measures progressively deteriorated across disease stages and were associated with reduced cortico-subcortical gray matter volume in distributed associative and integrative regions. In manifest HD, logistic regression analyses revealed that baseline language integrity independently predicted clinically meaningful worsening at 12 months (OR = 3.840, 95% CI = 1.46–13.33; AUC = 0.783). Combining speech-derived measures with plasma NfL improved discrimination accuracy of individuals with accelerated clinical progression (AUC = 0.807). Spontaneous speech represents an early, accessible and sensitive marker of neurodegeneration in HD. The combination of speech and language derived measures and plasma NfL enables accurate identification of individuals at risk of accelerated, clinically meaningful disease progression, supporting their potential utility as short-term prognostic biomarkers for clinical trials enrichment and stratification.
Early Language Impairment as an Integral Part of the Cognitive Phenotype in Huntington's Disease Arnau Puig‐Davi, Carla Franch‐Marti, Iñigo Ruiz‐Barrio, Frederic Sampedro, Jesus Perez‐Perez, et al. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 2025 ObjectiveHuntington's disease (HD) speech/language disorders have typically been attributed to motor and executive impairment due to striatal dysfunction. In‐depth study of linguistic skills and the role of extrastriatal structures in HD is scarce. This study aimed to explore the profile of language compromise in HD and identify the structural neuroimaging correlates.MethodsLanguage and structural correlates were assessed using the Mini Linguistic State Examination (MLSE) in 81 participants (20 HD‐ISS 0‐1, 40 HD‐ISS 2‐3 and 21 controls). Clinical and global cognition measures were also obtained. Imaging data included computed gray matter volume (GMV) and cortical thickness (CTh) values extracted from a general linear model with the MLSE. Correlation analyses were performed with the language components of the MLSE. Multivariate regression analyses were used to explore the predictive ability of the language components on GMV and CTh loss.ResultsHD individuals showed impaired MLSE performance (84.5 ± 12.8), particularly in syntax, motor speech, and to a lesser extent, semantics and phonology. Significant associations were found between linguistic performance and the structural integrity of nodes within the temporo‐parietal, fronto‐parietal, and fronto‐striatal lexical‐semantic and syntactic networks. Correlation analyses linked motor speech and syntax with predominantly left fronto‐striatal GMV and CTh clusters, while semantics had a bilateral fronto‐parietal topography. Multivariate regression analyses showed language domains as independent contributing factors of GMV and CTh loss in classical language‐related regions.InterpretationLanguage impairment is an integral part of the HD cognitive phenotype, with severity associated with structural disintegration in extensive cortico‐subcortical territories involved in language production and processing.
Retinal Microperimetry as a Novel Tool for Early Detection of Subclinical Cognitive Dysfunction and Brain Damage in Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study Manel Mateu‐Salat, Nicole Stanton‐Yonge, Frederic Sampedro Santaló, José Ignacio Vela, Jesús Díaz Cascajosa, et al. Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, 2025 ContextRetinal microperimetry (MPR) is a non‐invasive method that measures retinal light sensitivity (RS) and gaze fixation stability (GFS). MPR has been described as a marker of cognitive impairment in people with Type 2 diabetes, but it has never been assessed in people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Our group described subclinical cognitive alterations, structural brain differences, and increased levels of light chain neurofilament (NfL) in people with T1D and impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia.ObjectiveTo measure RS and GFS using MPR in individuals with T1D and evaluate its correlation with neuropsychological assessment, plasma NfL levels and CGM‐derived glucometric parameters. Secondary objectives: to evaluate the possible differences of RS and GFS in people with T1D depending on hypoglycaemia awareness.Design, Setting and ParticipantsPilot observational study, people with T1D without clinical cognitive impairment, moderate–severe retinopathy or glaucoma. MPR was performed with MAIA3.ResultsA total of 30 subjects were studied: 40% women, age 58 ± 11 years; T1D duration 31 ± 9 years, mild retinopathy 33%. RS was 27.5 dB (26.1–28.3) and GFS(%) 97.6% (93.5%–99.5%). We found a correlation between RS and memory alteration tests (p = 0.016) and between GFS(%) and a composite of attention and executive neuropsychological tests (p = 0.025). An inverse correlation between GFS and time below range was found. No correlation was found with NfL.ConclusionThis first exploratory study in people with T1D supports the potential utility of MPR as a screening tool for subclinical neurocognitive alterations in this population.
Prediction of Cognitive Heterogeneity in Parkinson's Disease: A 4-Year Longitudinal Study Using Clinical, Neuroimaging, Biological and Electrophysiological Biomarkers Arnau Puig‐Davi, Saul Martinez‐Horta, Laura Pérez‐Carasol, Andrea Horta‐Barba, Iñigo Ruiz‐Barrio, et al. Annals of Neurology, 2024 ObjectiveCognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD) can show a very heterogeneous trajectory among patients. Here, we explored the mechanisms involved in the expression and prediction of different cognitive phenotypes over 4 years.MethodsIn 2 independent cohorts (total n = 475), we performed a cluster analysis to identify trajectories of cognitive progression. Baseline and longitudinal level II neuropsychological assessments were conducted, and baseline structural magnetic resonance imaging, resting electroencephalogram and neurofilament light chain plasma quantification were carried out. Linear mixed‐effects models were used to study longitudinal changes. Risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia were estimated using multivariable hazard regression. Spectral power density from the electroencephalogram at baseline and source localization were computed.ResultsTwo cognitive trajectories were identified. Cluster 1 presented stability (PD‐Stable) over time, whereas cluster 2 showed progressive cognitive decline (PD‐Progressors). The PD‐Progressors group showed an increased risk for evolving to PD mild cognitive impairment (HR 2.09; 95% CI 1.11–3.95) and a marked risk for dementia (HR 4.87; 95% CI 1.34–17.76), associated with progressive worsening in posterior‐cortical‐dependent cognitive processes. Both clusters showed equivalent clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, structural magnetic resonance imaging, and neurofilament light chain levels at baseline. Conversely, the PD‐Progressors group showed a fronto‐temporo‐occipital and parietal slow‐wave power density increase, that was in turn related to worsening at 2 and 4 years of follow‐up in different cognitive measures.InterpretationIn the absence of differences in baseline cognitive function and typical markers of neurodegeneration, the further development of an aggressive cognitive decline in PD is associated with increased slow‐wave power density and with a different profile of worsening in several posterior‐cortical‐dependent tasks. ANN NEUROL 2024
The profiling of extracellular vesicle subtypes in Huntington’s disease brains identifies Alix as a novel marker of neuropathology R Pérez-González, A Vázquez-Oliver, N Salvat-Rovira, S Martínez-Horta, ... Acta Neuropathologica Communications 14 (1), 39 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Spontaneous speech and language measures as predictive biomarkers of clinically meaningful disease progression and neurodegeneration in Huntington’s disease A Puig-Davi, C Franch-Marti, L Caler-Gameiro, J Perez-Perez, ... Journal of Neural Transmission, 1-11 , 2026 2026
Neural and biomarker correlates of the Parkinson's Disease–Cognitive Rating Scale in Huntington's disease S Martinez-Horta, A Puig-Davi, F Sampedro, J Pérez-Pérez, ... NeuroImage: Reports 6 (1), 100311 , 2026 2026
22448-LOS DÉFICITS DE CONSOLIDACIÓN EN LA MEMORIA EPISÓDICA DISTINGUEN FENOTIPOS CLÍNICOS Y NEURODEGENERATIVOS EN LA ENFERMEDAD DE HUNTINGTON CF Martí, A Quevedo-García, A Puig-Davi, F Sampedro, J Oltra-Cucarella, ... Neurology Perspectives 5, 111246 , 2025 2025
21878-EL LENGUAJE ESPONTÁNEO COMO BIOMARCADOR PREDICTIVO DE NEURODEGENERACIÓN Y DECLIVE COGNITIVO EN LA ENFERMEDAD DE HUNTINGTON AP Davi, LC Gameiro, CF Marti, AV Oliver, ER Asensio, JP Pérez, ... Neurology Perspectives 5, 111249 , 2025 2025
Consolidation deficits in episodic memory define distinct clinical and neurodegenerative profiles in Huntington’s disease S Martinez-Horta, A Quevedo-García, A Puig-Davi, F Sampedro, ... NeuroImage: Clinical, 103894 , 2025 2025
A Randomized Clinical Trial of Immersive Virtual Reality and Cognitive Rehabilitation for Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease A Puig-Davi, A Moreu-Valls, S Martinez-Horta, G Kulisevsky, F Sampedro, ... MOVEMENT DISORDERS 40 , 2025 2025
Early Language Impairment as an Integral Part of the Cognitive Phenotype in Huntington's Disease A Puig‐Davi, C Franch‐Marti, I Ruiz‐Barrio, F Sampedro, J Perez‐Perez, ... Annals of clinical and translational neurology 12 (6), 1201-1213 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
A randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation and music therapy in mild cognitive impairment in Huntington’s disease A Moreu-Valls, A Puig-Davi, S Martinez-Horta, G Kulisevsky, F Sampedro, ... Journal of Neurology 272 (3), 202 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
Consolidation deficits in episodic memory define distinct clinical and neurodegenerative profiles in Huntington’s disease A Quevedo-García, F Sampedro, J Oltra-Cucarella, J Perez-Perez, ... Elsevier , 2025 2025
Retinal Microperimetry as a Novel Tool for Early Detection of Subclinical Cognitive Dysfunction and Brain Damage in Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study M Mateu‐Salat, N Stanton‐Yonge, FS Santaló, JI Vela, JD Cascajosa, ... Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism 8 (1), e70018 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Facial emotion recognition deficits are associated with hypomimia and related brain correlates in Parkinson’s disease J Rodríguez-Antigüedad, S Martínez-Horta, A Horta-Barba, A Puig-Davi, ... Journal of Neural Transmission 131 (12), 1463-1469 , 2024 2024 Citations: 14
21398. CUANTIFICACIÓN DE PROTEÍNA TAU EN PIEL COMO BIOMARCADOR EN LA ENFERMEDAD DE HUNTINGTON ÍR Barrio, AV Oliver, AP Davi, ER Asensio, JP Pérez, CF Vizuete, ... Neurology Perspectives 4, 140 , 2024 2024
21020. BASES NEURONALES DE LA DESINTEGRACIÓN DEL LENGUAJE EN LA ENFERMEDAD DE HUNTINGTON AP Davi, SM Horta, LP Carasol, F Sampedro, JP Pérez, ÍR Barrio, ... Neurology Perspectives 4, 141 , 2024 2024
Skin tau quantification as a novel biomarker in Huntington's disease I Ruiz‐Barrio, A Vázquez‐Oliver, A Puig‐Davi, E Rivas‐Asensio, ... Movement Disorders 39 (11), 2067-2074 , 2024 2024 Citations: 6
Prediction of Cognitive Heterogeneity in Parkinson's Disease: A 4‐Year Longitudinal Study Using Clinical, Neuroimaging, Biological and Electrophysiological Biomarkers A Puig‐Davi, S Martinez‐Horta, L Pérez‐Carasol, A Horta‐Barba, ... Annals of neurology 96 (5), 981-993 , 2024 2024 Citations: 22
D011 Skin Tau quantification as a novel biomarker in Huntington's disease IR Barrio, A Vázquez-Oliver, A Puig-Davi, E Rivas-Asensio, J Pérez-Pérez, ... Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 95 (Suppl 1), A36-A38 , 2024 2024
Cognitive phenotype and neurodegeneration associated with Tau in Huntington's disease S Martinez‐Horta, J Perez‐Perez, R Perez‐Gonzalez, F Sampedro, ... Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology 11 (5), 1160-1171 , 2024 2024 Citations: 11
Retinal Microperimetry as a Novel Tool for Early Detection of Cognitive Dysfunction and Brain Damage in Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study M Mateu-Salat, N Stanton-Yonge, FS Santaló, JI Vela, JD Cascajosa, ... 2024 Citations: 1
The success of assessing cortical microstructure through surface-based diffusion-weighted neuroimaging. F Sampedro Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery 234, 107990-107990 , 2023 2023
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Assessing the psychedelic “after-glow” in ayahuasca users: post-acute neurometabolic and functional connectivity changes are associated with enhanced mindfulness capacities F Sampedro, M de la Fuente Revenga, M Valle, N Roberto, ... International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology 20 (9), 698-711 , 2017 2017 Citations: 235
Neuropsychiatric symptoms are very common in premanifest and early stage Huntington's disease S Martinez-Horta, J Perez-Perez, E Van Duijn, R Fernandez-Bobadilla, ... Parkinsonism & related disorders 25, 58-64 , 2016 2016 Citations: 196
Agreement of amyloid PET and CSF biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease on Lumipulse D Alcolea, J Pegueroles, L Munoz, V Camacho, D López‐Mora, ... Annals of clinical and translational neurology 6 (9), 1815-1824 , 2019 2019 Citations: 187
APOE-by-sex interactions on brain structure and metabolism in healthy elderly controls F Sampedro, E Vilaplana, MJ De Leon, D Alcolea, J Pegueroles, V Montal, ... Oncotarget 6 (29), 26663 , 2015 2015 Citations: 149
Longitudinal brain structural changes in preclinical Alzheimer's disease J Pegueroles, E Vilaplana, V Montal, F Sampedro, D Alcolea, ... Alzheimer's & Dementia 13 (5), 499-509 , 2017 2017 Citations: 134
Relationship between cortical thickness and cerebrospinal fluid YKL-40 in predementia stages of Alzheimer's disease D Alcolea, E Vilaplana, J Pegueroles, V Montal, P Sánchez-Juan, ... Neurobiology of aging 36 (6), 2018-2023 , 2015 2015 Citations: 113
Disruption of the default mode network and its intrinsic functional connectivity underlies minor hallucinations in Parkinson's disease H Bejr‐kasem, J Pagonabarraga, S Martínez‐Horta, F Sampedro, ... Movement Disorders 34 (1), 78-86 , 2019 2019 Citations: 95
Telling true from false: cannabis users show increased susceptibility to false memories J Riba, M Valle, F Sampedro, A Rodríguez-Pujadas, S Martínez-Horta, ... Molecular Psychiatry 20 (6), 772-777 , 2015 2015 Citations: 84
Depression as a risk factor for impulse control disorders in Parkinson disease J Marín‐Lahoz, F Sampedro, S Martinez‐Horta, J Pagonabarraga, ... Annals of neurology 86 (5), 762-769 , 2019 2019 Citations: 70
Serum neurofilament light chain levels reflect cortical neurodegeneration in de novo Parkinson's disease F Sampedro, R Pérez-González, S Martínez-Horta, J Marín-Lahoz, ... Parkinsonism & Related Disorders 74, 43-49 , 2020 2020 Citations: 68
Non-demented Parkinson’s disease patients with apathy show decreased grey matter volume in key executive and reward-related nodes S Martinez-Horta, F Sampedro, J Pagonabarraga, R Fernandez-Bobadilla, ... Brain imaging and behavior 11 (5), 1334-1342 , 2017 2017 Citations: 66
Structural and metabolic brain correlates of apathy in Huntington's disease S Martínez‐Horta, J Perez‐Perez, F Sampedro, J Pagonabarraga, ... Movement Disorders 33 (7), 1151-1159 , 2018 2018 Citations: 64
A divergent breakdown of neurocognitive networks in Parkinson's disease mild cognitive impairment I Aracil‐Bolaños, F Sampedro, J Marín‐Lahoz, A Horta‐Barba, ... Human brain mapping 40 (11), 3233-3242 , 2019 2019 Citations: 62
Cerebrospinal fluid anti-amyloid-β autoantibodies and amyloid PET in cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation M Carmona-Iragui, A Fernández-Arcos, D Alcolea, F Piazza, ... Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 50 (1), 1-7 , 2016 2016 Citations: 61
Minor hallucinations reflect early gray matter loss and predict subjective cognitive decline in parkinson’s disease H Bejr‐kasem, F Sampedro, J Marín‐Lahoz, S Martínez‐Horta, ... European Journal of Neurology , 2020 2020 Citations: 60
Telomerase and telomere dynamics in ageing and cancer: current status and future directions F Sampedro Camarena, G Cano Serral, F Sampedro Santalo Clinical and Translational Oncology 9 (3), 145-154 , 2007 2007 Citations: 53
Striatal hypometabolism in premanifest and manifest Huntington’s disease patients DA López-Mora, V Camacho, J Pérez-Pérez, S Martínez-Horta, ... European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging 43 (12), 2183-2189 , 2016 2016 Citations: 52
Cocaine addiction is associated with abnormal prefrontal function, increased striatal connectivity and sensitivity to monetary incentives, and decreased connectivity outside … L Vaquero, E Cámara, F Sampedro, J Perez de los Cobos, F Batlle, ... Addiction Biology 22 (3), 844-856 , 2017 2017 Citations: 51
Robot-induced hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease depend on altered sensorimotor processing in fronto-temporal network F Bernasconi, E Blondiaux, J Potheegadoo, G Stripeikyte, ... Science Translational Medicine 13 (591), eabc8362 , 2021 2021 Citations: 49
Dopaminergic degeneration induces early posterior cortical thinning in Parkinson's disease F Sampedro, J Marín-Lahoz, S Martínez-Horta, J Pagonabarraga, ... Neurobiology of disease 124, 29-35 , 2019 2019 Citations: 49