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Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association
Published

Time-encoded ASL reveals lower cerebral blood flow in the early AD continuum

Authors

Carles Falcon, Paula Montesinos, Lena Václavů, Michalis Kassinopoulos, Carolina Minguillon, Karine Fauria, Diego Cascales-Lahoz, José Contador, Aida Fernández-Lebrero, Irene Navalpotro, Albert Puig-Pijoan, Oriol Grau-Rivera, Gwendlyn Kollmorgen, Clara Quijano-Rubio, José Luis Molinuevo, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Marc Suárez-Calvet, Matthias J P Van Osch, Javier Sanchez-Gonzalez, Juan Domingo Gispert

Abstract

Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Jul 3. doi: 10.1002/alz.14059. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is reduced in cognitively impaired (CI) Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. We checked the sensitivity of time-encoded arterial spin labeling (te-ASL) in measuring CBF alterations in individuals with positive AD biomarkers and associations with relevant biomarkers in cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals.

METHODS: We compared te-ASL with single-postlabel delay (PLD) ASL in measuring CBF in 59 adults across the AD continuum, classified as CU amyloid beta (Aβ) negative (-), CU Aβ positive (+), and CI Aβ+. We sought associations of CBF with biomarkers of AD, cerebrovascular disease, synaptic dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and cognition in CU participants.

RESULTS: te-ASL was more sensitive at detecting CBF reduction in the CU Aβ+ and CI Aβ+ groups. In CU participants, lower CBF was associated with altered biomarkers of Aβ, tau, synaptic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration.

DISCUSSION: CBF reduction occurs early in the AD continuum. te-ASL is more sensitive than single-PLD ASL at detecting CBF changes in AD.

HIGHLIGHTS: Lower CBF can be detected in CU subjects in the early AD continuum. te-ASL is more sensitive than single-PLD ASL at detecting CBF alterations in AD. CBF is linked to biomarkers of AD, synaptic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration.

PMID:38958557 | DOI:10.1002/alz.14059

UK DRI Authors

Profile picture of Henrik Zetterberg

Prof Henrik Zetterberg

Group Leader

Pioneering the development of fluid biomarkers for dementia

Prof Henrik Zetterberg