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Updated: May 6, 2026
Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Published on: February 7, 2014
Cerebral arterial stiffness is linked to white matter hyperintensities and perivascular spaces in older adults - A 4D
Cecilia Björnfot1, Anders Eklund1,2, Jenny Larsson3
1Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Radiation Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Abstract:
White matter hyperintensities (WMH), perivascular spaces (PVS) and lacunes are common MRI features of small vessel disease (SVD). However, no shared underlying pathological mechanism has been identified. We investigated whether SVD burden, in terms of WMH, PVS and lacune status, was related to changes in the cerebral arterial wall by applying global cerebral pulse wave velocity (gcPWV) measurements, a newly described marker of cerebral vascular stiffness. In a population-based cohort of 190 individuals, 66-85 years old, SVD features were estimated from T1-weighted and FLAIR images while gcPWV was estimated from 4D flow MRI data. Additionally, the gcPWV's stability to variations in field-of-view was analyzed. The gcPWV was 10.82 (3.94) m/s and displayed a significant correlation to WMH and white matter PVS volume (r = 0.29, p < 0.001; r = 0.21, p = 0.004 respectively from nonparametric tests) that persisted after adjusting for age, blood pressure variables, body mass index, ApoB/A1 ratio, smoking as well as cerebral pulsatility index, a previously suggested early marker of SVD. The gcPWV displayed satisfactory stability to field-of-view variations. Our results suggest that SVD is accompanied by changes in the cerebral arterial wall that can be captured by considering the velocity of the pulse wave transmission through the cerebral arterial network.
Insights
Small vessel disease (SVD) is linked to stiffer cerebral arteries. Global cerebral pulse wave velocity (gcPWV) measures this stiffness, correlating with white matter hyperintensities and perivascular spaces in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Small vessel disease (SVD) encompasses white matter hyperintensities (WMH), perivascular spaces (PVS), and lacunes, common in aging brains.
- The shared pathological mechanisms underlying these SVD markers remain unclear.
- Cerebral vascular stiffness is a potential factor linking different SVD manifestations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between SVD burden (WMH, PVS, lacunes) and cerebral arterial wall changes.
- To evaluate global cerebral pulse wave velocity (gcPWV) as a marker of cerebral vascular stiffness in SVD.
- To assess the stability of gcPWV measurements.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort of 190 individuals aged 66-85 years was studied.
- SVD features were quantified using T1-weighted and FLAIR MRI.
- Global cerebral pulse wave velocity (gcPWV) was measured using 4D flow MRI.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between gcPWV and WMH volume (r=0.29, p<0.001).
- gcPWV also correlated significantly with white matter PVS volume (r=0.21, p=0.004).
- These correlations remained significant after adjusting for major confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- SVD is associated with increased cerebral arterial stiffness, as indicated by gcPWV.
- gcPWV is a promising marker for detecting arterial wall changes in SVD.
- Pulse wave velocity may reflect a common pathological pathway in SVD.
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