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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly
12:50

Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly

Published on: April 14, 2014

Cerebral blood volume in Alzheimer's disease and correlation with tissue structural integrity

Jinsoo Uh1, Kelly Lewis-Amezcua, Kristin Martin-Cook

  • 1Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States.

Neurobiology of Aging
|February 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) show significant cerebral blood volume (CBV) deficits, particularly in frontal/parietal white matter. This vascular issue is linked to reduced brain tissue integrity and slower cognitive function.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Vascular Neurology
  • Alzheimer's Disease Research

Background:

  • The role of vascular factors in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is gaining recognition.
  • Cerebral blood volume (CBV) changes may indicate early disease processes.
  • Understanding vascular contributions is crucial for AD pathogenesis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cerebral blood volume (CBV) using Vascular-Space-Occupancy (VASO) MRI in patients with probable AD or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
  • To correlate CBV deficits with white matter integrity and cognitive performance.
  • To identify specific brain regions affected by vascular changes in AD/MCI.

Main Methods:

  • Employed a novel Vascular-Space-Occupancy (VASO) MRI technique to measure CBV.
  • Compared CBV in gray and white matter between AD/MCI patients and non-demented controls.
  • Assessed tissue structural integrity using apparent diffusion coefficients and FLAIR MRI.

Main Results:

  • Significant CBV deficits (approximately 20% reduction) were observed in frontal and parietal white matter in the AD/MCI group.
  • Regions with CBV deficits showed reduced tissue integrity, indicated by increased apparent diffusion coefficients.
  • Lower CBV correlated with more white matter lesions and slower psychomotor speed.

Conclusions:

  • Vascular dysfunction, specifically reduced CBV in frontal/parietal white matter, is a key feature in AD/MCI.
  • These vascular deficits are associated with compromised white matter integrity.
  • Findings highlight the importance of the cerebrovasculature in AD pathogenesis and its impact on cognitive function.

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