MRI of Angiogenesis & Vasculature Alternations in Alzheimers Disease Based on Endogenous BOLD Contrast

Kejia Cai¹, Mohammad Haris¹, Anup Singh¹, Adam Shore¹, Rachelle Berger¹, Ari Borthakur¹, Ravinder Reddy¹

Affecting 10% of the worlds population, Alzheimers disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia in the elderly. Recently, it was hypothesized that AD may be an angiogenesis-dependent disorder and anti-angiogenic drugs might be able to prevent and treat this disease. Here we present the first MRI demonstration of AD associated angiogenesis by using a technique based on endogenous blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) effect. With further development, MRI of angiogenesis and vasculature alternations could serve as a sensitive tool for investigation of AD pathology, early diagnosis and testing therapeutic efficacy of novel drugs.