An Investigation of Cerebral Vascular Functional Properties in Middle-to-Old Age Community People With High Vascular Risk Profiles

Yao Zhang; Ruiting Zhang; Hui Hong; Shuyue Wang; Linyun Xie; Lei Cui; Jixuan Li; Luwei Hong; Kaicheng Li; Qingze Zeng; Ying Zhou; Minming Zhang; Jianzhong Sun; Peiyu Huang

doi:10.1002/jmri.29278

An Investigation of Cerebral Vascular Functional Properties in Middle-to-Old Age Community People With High Vascular Risk Profiles

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2024 Feb 8. doi: 10.1002/jmri.29278. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yao Zhang¹, Ruiting Zhang¹, Hui Hong¹, Shuyue Wang¹, Linyun Xie¹, Lei Cui¹, Jixuan Li¹, Luwei Hong¹, Kaicheng Li¹, Qingze Zeng¹, Ying Zhou², Minming Zhang¹, Jianzhong Sun¹, Peiyu Huang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
² Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.

PMID: 38329184
DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29278

Abstract

Background: Vascular degeneration is an important cause of brain damage in aging. Assessing the functional properties of the cerebral vascular system may aid early diagnosis and prevention.

Purpose: To investigate the relationships between potential vascular functional markers and vascular risks, brain parenchymal damage, and cognition.

Study type: Retrospective.

Subjects: Two hundred two general community subjects (42-80 years, males/females: 127/75).

Field strength/sequence: 3 T, spin echo T1W/T2W/FLAIR, resting-state functional MRI with an echo-planar sequence (rsfMRI), pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) with a three-dimensional gradient-spin echo sequence.

Assessment: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in gray matter calculated using pCASL, blood transit times calculated using rsfMRI, and the SD of internal carotid arteries signal (ICA_std ) calculated using rsfMRI; visual assessment for lacunes; quantification of white matter hyperintensity volume; permutation test for quality control; collection of demographic and clinical data, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Mini-Mental State Examination.

Statistical tests: Kolmogorov-Smirnov test; Spearman rank correlation analysis; Multivariable linear regression analysis controlling for covariates; The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results: Age was negatively associated with ICA_std (β = -0.180). Diabetes was associated with longer blood transit time from large arteries to capillary bed (β = 0.185, adjusted for age, sex, and intracranial volume). Larger ICA_std was associated with less presence of lacunes (odds ratio: 0.418, adjusted for age and sex). Higher gray matter CBF (β = 0.154) and larger ICA_std (β = 0.136) were associated with better MoCA scores (adjusted for age, sex, and education).

Data conclusion: Prolonged blood transit time, decreased ICA_std , and diminished CBF were associated with vascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment. They may serve as vascular functional markers in future studies.

Evidence level: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Keywords: cerebrovascular health; cognition; functional MRI; vascular risk factors.

Abstract

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