Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2025
Author Spotlight: Noninvasive Cerebral Blood Flow Determination in Human Functional Brain Region for Diagnosis of Neurological Disorders
Published on: May 31, 2024
Aberrant cerebral perfusion pattern in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive
Song'an Shang1, Jingtao Wu1, Yu-Chen Chen2
1Department of Radiology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Background:
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been defined as the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease (PD) with dementia. We investigated the differences in regional perfusion properties among MCI subtypes and healthy control (HC) subjects by using arterial spin labeling (ASL).
Methods:
Regional normalized CBF (z-CBF) and CBF-connectivity were analyzed from ASL data in 44 amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients, 42 PD-MCI patients, and 50 matched HC participants. The correlations between these significant regions and clinical performance were investigated separately using Spearman correlation analysis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was generated to determine the differentiating ability of z-CBF values. z-CBF values in disease-related specific regions were extracted for group comparison.
Results:
MCI subgroups showed overlapped impaired regions, aMCI group seemed more extensive than the PD-MCI group. PD-MCI patients had reduced z-CBF in the bilateral putamen, left precentral gyrus, left middle cingulate gyrus, and right middle frontal gyrus compared to aMCI group. Correlations to executive performance and motor severity were found in PD-MCI group, and correlations were to memory performance found in aMCI group. CBF-connectivity in left precentral gyrus, left middle cingulate gyrus, and right middle frontal gyrus were significantly altered. All of the significant clusters had good discriminatory ability.
Conclusions:
Normalized CBF as measured by ASL revealed different patterns of perfusion between aMCI and PD-MCI, which were probably linked to distinct neural mechanisms. The present study indicates that z-CBF can provide specific perfusion information for further pathological and neuropsychological studies.
Insights
Arterial spin labeling reveals distinct brain perfusion patterns in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes. Amnestic MCI and Parkinson
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a precursor to dementia in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
- Investigating MCI subtypes is crucial for understanding disease progression.
- Arterial spin labeling (ASL) offers a non-invasive method to assess brain perfusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate regional perfusion properties between amnestic MCI (aMCI) and Parkinson's disease with MCI (PD-MCI) subtypes.
- To compare perfusion in MCI subtypes with healthy controls (HC).
- To explore correlations between perfusion deficits and clinical performance.
Main Methods:
- ASL data analyzed for regional normalized cerebral blood flow (z-CBF) and CBF-connectivity.
- Study included 44 aMCI, 42 PD-MCI, and 50 HC participants.
- Spearman correlation and ROC analyses used to assess clinical correlations and diagnostic ability.
Main Results:
- MCI subgroups exhibited overlapping but distinct impaired perfusion regions.
- PD-MCI showed reduced z-CBF in the putamen, left precentral gyrus, and cingulate/frontal gyri compared to aMCI.
- Correlations differed: PD-MCI with executive/motor function, aMCI with memory function.
Conclusions:
- ASL-based z-CBF reveals differential perfusion patterns in aMCI and PD-MCI.
- These patterns suggest distinct underlying neural mechanisms.
- z-CBF provides valuable information for future pathological and neuropsychological studies of MCI.
