Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data
Published on: June 26, 2013
Spatial variation of perfusion MRI reflects cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment and early dementia
Catherine A Morgan1,2,3, Tracy R Melzer4,5,6,7, Reece P Roberts8,4
1School of Psychology and Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Building 302, Level 2, 23 Symonds Street, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand. c.morgan@auckland.ac.nz.
Abstract:
Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured with arterial spin labelling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflects cerebral perfusion, related to metabolism, and arterial transit time (ATT), related to vascular health. Our aim was to investigate the spatial coefficient of variation (sCoV) of CBF maps as a surrogate for ATT, in volunteers meeting criteria for subjective cognitive decline (SCD), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and probable Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Whole-brain pseudo continuous ASL MRI was performed at 3 T in 122 participants (controls = 20, SCD = 44, MCI = 45 and AD = 13) across three sites in New Zealand. From CBF maps that included all grey matter, sCoV progressively increased across each group with increased cognitive deficit. A similar overall trend was found when examining sCoV solely in the temporal lobe. We conclude that sCoV, a simple to compute imaging metric derived from ASL MRI, is sensitive to varying degrees of cognitive changes and supports the view that vascular health contributes to cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Insights
The spatial coefficient of variation (sCoV) of cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by ASL MRI increases with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. This imaging metric suggests impaired vascular health contributes to cognitive impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Vascular Neurology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Cerebral blood flow (CBF) assessed via arterial spin labelling (ASL) MRI indicates brain perfusion and vascular health.
- Arterial transit time (ATT) is a marker of vascular health, but its direct measurement can be challenging.
- Spatial coefficient of variation (sCoV) of CBF maps may serve as a surrogate for ATT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of sCoV of CBF maps as a surrogate for ATT.
- To assess sCoV in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's dementia (AD).
Main Methods:
- Whole-brain pseudo continuous ASL MRI was conducted at 3 Tesla.
- 122 participants (20 controls, 44 SCD, 45 MCI, 13 AD) were recruited across three New Zealand sites.
- sCoV was calculated from CBF maps, analyzing both whole grey matter and temporal lobe regions.
Main Results:
- sCoV of CBF progressively increased across groups with increasing cognitive deficit (Controls < SCD < MCI < AD).
- This trend was consistent when analyzing sCoV in the temporal lobe exclusively.
- sCoV demonstrated sensitivity to varying degrees of cognitive impairment.
Conclusions:
- sCoV derived from ASL MRI is a simple, computable metric sensitive to cognitive changes.
- Increased sCoV suggests impaired cerebrovascular health contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease spectrum.
- This finding supports the role of vascular factors in the pathophysiology of cognitive decline.
More Related Videos
07:30Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
05:12A Mouse Model for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Based on Needle-guided Asymmetric Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Stenosis
Published on: November 22, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:17Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this...
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging