Vessel‐encoded arterial spin labeling (VE‐ASL) reveals elevated flow territory asymmetry in older adults with substandard verbal memory performance. Issue 2 (30th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Donahue, Manus J.; Hussey, Erin; Rane, Swati; Wilson, Tracy; van Osch, Matthias; Hartkamp, Nolan; Hendrikse, Jeroen; Ally, Brandon A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging. Volume 39:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 377
• Page End: 386
• Publication Date: 2013-04-30
• Subjects: cerebral blood flow -- memory -- dementia -- ageing -- vessel encoded arterial spin labeling (VE‐ASL) -- flow territory asymmetry; Magnetic resonance imaging -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.24150
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-1807

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To evaluate how flow territory asymmetry and/or the distribution of blood through collateral pathways may adversely affect the brain's ability to respond to age‐related changes in brain function. These patterns have been investigated in cerebrovascular disease; however, here we evaluated how flow‐territory asymmetry related to memory generally in older adults. Materials and Methods: A multi‐faceted MRI protocol, including vessel‐encoded arterial spin labeling capable of flow territory mapping, was applied to assess how flow territory asymmetry; memory performance (CERAD‐Immediate Recall); cortical cerebral blood flow (CBF), white matter lesion (WML) count, and cortical gray matter volume were related in older healthy control volunteers (HC; n = 15; age = 64.5 ± 7 years) and age‐matched mild cognitive impairment volunteers (MCI; n = 7; age = 62.7 ± 3.7 years). Results: An inverse relationship was found between memory performance and flow territory asymmetry in HC volunteers ( P = 0.04), which reversed in MCI volunteers ( P = 0.04). No relationship was found between memory performance and cortical tissue volume in either group ( P > 0.05). Group‐level differences for HC volunteers performing above versus below average on CERAD‐I were observed for flow territory asymmetry ( P < 0.02) and cortical volume ( P < 0.05) only. Conclusion: Findings suggest that flow territory asymmetry may correlate more sensitively with memory performance than CBF, atrophy and WML count in older adults.J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;39:377–386 . ©2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .