Lower cerebral blood flow predicts cognitive decline in patients with vascular cognitive impairment

Author(s):
Dinther, M. van; Hooghiemstra, A.M.; Bron, E.E.; Versteeg, A.; Leeuwis, A.E.; Kalay, T.; Moonen, J.E.; Kuipers, S.; Backes, W.H.; Jansen, J.F.A.; Osch, M.J.P. van; Biessels, G.J.; Staals, J.; Oostenbrugge, R.J. van; Heart-Brain Connection consortium
Published
2023
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion is one of the assumed pathophysiological mechanisms underlying vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). We investigated the association between baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cognitive decline after 2 years in patients with VCI and reference participants.

METHODS One hundred eighty-one participants (mean age 66.3 ± 7.4 years, 43.6% women) underwent arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychological assessment at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. We determined the association between baseline global and lobar CBF and cognitive decline with multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS Lower global CBF at baseline was associated with more global cognitive decline in VCI and reference participants. This association was most profound in the domain of attention/psychomotor speed. Lower temporal and frontal CBF at baseline were associated with more cognitive decline in memory. DISCUSSION Our study supports the role of hypoperfusion in the pathophysiological and clinical progression of VCI.

arterial spin labelingcerebral blood flowcerebral perfusioncognitive functionvascular cognitive impairment
Date issued
2023-07-25
Language
English
Publisher
Wiley
Is part of
Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association (2023), Vol. 20, no. 1, p. 136-144
hdl
1887/3736237
doi
10.1002/alz.13408
URL
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13408