Michael Edward Kelly1, Christoph Wolfgang Blau2, Ranya Bechara2, Marina Anne Lynch2, Christian Mattheis Kerskens2
1Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin , Ireland; 2Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) can be used to provide a quantitative assessment of cerebral perfusion. A new model based on a Fokker-Planck equation that reduces the number of variables required to describe the physiological processes involved is presented. Mean and capillary transit times (MTT and CTT) are calculated by fitting the model to ASL data. To test the hypothesis that these parameters vary under varying physiological conditions, a study was carried out in groups of rats of different ages. A significant difference in MTT and CTT was identified between an aged group and young and middle aged groups.