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Decreased Cerebrovascular Reactivity in Mild Cognitive Impairment Phenotypes. J Alzheimers Dis 2023;94(4):1503-1513

Date

07/10/2023

Pubmed ID

37424462

DOI

10.3233/JAD-221156

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85168427896 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular health plays an important role in cognitive health in older adults. Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), a measure of cerebrovascular health, changes in both normal and pathological aging, and is increasingly being conceptualized as contributory to cognitive decline. Interrogation of this process will yield new insights into cerebrovascular correlates of cognition and neurodegeneration.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examines CVR using advanced MRI in prodromal dementia states (amnestic and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment phenotypes; aMCI and naMCI, respectively) and older adult controls.

METHODS: CVR was assessed in 41 subjects (20 controls, 11 aMCI, 10 naMCI) using multiband multi-echo breath-holding task functional magnetic resonance imaging. Imaging data were preprocessed and analyzed using AFNI. All participants also completed a battery of neuropsychological tests. T-tests and ANOVA/ANCOVA analyses were conducted to compare controls to MCI groups on CVR and cognitive metrics. Partial correlation analyses between CVR derived from regions-of-interest (ROIs) and different cognitive functions were conducted.

RESULTS: CVR was found to be significantly lower in aMCI and naMCI patients compared to controls. naMCI showed intermediate patterns between aMCI and controls (though aMCI and naMCI groups did not significantly differ). CVR of ROIs were positively correlated with neuropsychological measures of processing speed, executive functioning, and memory.

CONCLUSION: The findings highlight regional CVR differences in MCI phenotypes compared to controls, where aMCI may have lower CVR than naMCI. Our results suggest possible cerebrovascular abnormalities associated with MCI phenotypes.

Author List

Glass Umfleet L, Pommy J, Cohen AD, Allen M, Obarski S, Mason L, Berres H, Franczak M, Wang Y

Authors

Laura Umfleet PsyD Associate Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Yang Wang MD Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Cognition
Cognitive Dysfunction
Executive Function
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neuropsychological Tests
Phenotype