Using Neuroimaging to Study Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Its Relationship to Alzheimer's Disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroimaging
• Vascular Dementia

Background:

• Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) involves amyloid-β deposition in cerebral blood vessels.
• CAA is a significant vascular factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD), often co-occurring with AD.
• The interplay between CAA and AD pathogenesis, including mutual influence on amyloid-β and tau pathology, requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review neuroimaging modalities for assessing CAA in vivo.
• To explore the association between CAA markers and AD vulnerability.
• To identify research avenues for advancing CAA biomarker discovery and diagnostic capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Review of neuroimaging techniques applicable to CAA assessment.
• Discussion of CAA-related markers detectable via neuroimaging, such as microbleeds, BBB permeability, and altered cerebral blood flow.
• Exploration of the link between these markers and AD pathology.

Main Results:

• Neuroimaging enables in vivo evaluation of CAA, overcoming limitations of autopsy-based studies.
• Identified neuroimaging markers include hemorrhages, BBB disruption, reduced cerebral blood flow, amyloid/tau accumulation, white matter changes, and impaired cerebrovascular reactivity.
• These markers may indicate CAA's impact on AD risk and progression.

Conclusions:

• Neuroimaging is crucial for understanding CAA's natural history and its effects on cognitive decline in AD.
• Further research into neuroimaging biomarkers can enhance the diagnosis and staging of CAA.
• Investigating these markers may lead to a better understanding of AD pathogenesis and vulnerability.