Tracy L. Wilson1, Brandon A. Ally2, 3, Erin P. Hussey3, Swati D. Rane1, Tricia A. Thornton-Wells4, 5, Shashwath A. Meda4, 5, John C. Gore1, Manus J.
1Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; 2Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; 3Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; 4Center for Human Genetics Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; 5Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Noninvasive MRI approaches capable of assessing tissue-level modulations in cerebral hemodynamics hold significant potential for gauging disease severity and progression in patients with, and at-risk for, Alzheimer's disease (AD). We implemented a customized arterial spin labeling (ASL) sequence specifically capable of assessing cerebral blood flow (CBF), simultaneously in cortical and subcortical structures. The ASL technique implemented showed high reproducibility in young and older adults. In patients, we observed positive relationships between cortical CBF and cognitive performance in all volunteers, but an inverse trend between hippocampus CBF and cognitive performance in at-risk and control participants.