Cerebrovascular regulation dynamics and Alzheimer's neuroimaging phenotypes

TL;DR

This study explores how cerebrovascular function relates to brain changes in Alzheimer's disease using new hemodynamic markers and neuroimaging data.

Contribution

The study introduces novel model-based hemodynamic indices that correlate with Alzheimer's-related brain phenotypes and require no effort from participants.

Findings

Higher hemodynamic indices correlate with greater hippocampal volume and lower amyloid burden.

Model-based hemodynamic markers differ between cognitively impaired and unimpaired adults.

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation correlates with brain amyloid burden.

Abstract

Cerebrovascular dysfunction may contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. We examined how novel cerebral hemodynamic markers relate to neuroimaging phenotypes associated with AD dementia in cognitively impaired and unimpaired older adults.

Statistical hemodynamic indices were computed for each participant from stochastic dynamic models relating resting‐state spontaneous arterial blood pressure and end‐tidal CO2 fluctuations to transcranial doppler‐derived blood velocity and near infrared spectroscopy‐derived cortical tissue oxygenation. Linear regressions related these hemodynamic indices to hippocampal volume, WMH volume, cortical thickness in an AD‐signature region, and brain amyloid burden measured by PET.

Higher hemodynamic indices, indicating proximity to normal cerebrovascular function correlated with neuroimaging phenotypes typically associated with better cognitive status: greater hippocampal volume and lower amyloid burden.

Our findings provide further support for the role of cerebrovascular dysfunction in AD pathogenesis and for the potential clinical utility of model‐based indices of cerebral hemodynamics.

Model‐based hemodynamic marker estimation involves no effort from the participant.All hemodynamic indices differ between cognitively impaired and unimpaired adults.Novel hemodynamic markers correlate with established ADRD‐related brain phenotypes.Near‐infrared spectroscopy‐derived indices correlate with hippocampal volume.Dynamic cerebral autoregulation correlates with amyloid burden.

Model‐based hemodynamic marker estimation involves no effort from the participant.

All hemodynamic indices differ between cognitively impaired and unimpaired adults.

Novel hemodynamic markers correlate with established ADRD‐related brain phenotypes.

Near‐infrared spectroscopy‐derived indices correlate with hippocampal volume.

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation correlates with amyloid burden.

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