Wenjun Li1, Chunming Xie1,2,
Jennifer Jones3, Malgorzata Franczak3, Piero Antuono3,
Shi-jiang Li1
1Biophysics, Medical College of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; 2Neurology, Southeast
University, Nanjing, Jiansu, China,; 3Neurology, Medical College
of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
Cholinergic
inhibitor (Aricept®) has been shown to improve cognitive function in adults
with Alzheimers disease (AD). Also, it has an effect on improving the
cerebral blood flow (CBF) perfusion detected by PET technology. Previously we
have found increased CBF in cingulate and posterior cingulated regions using
a Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling (pCASL) MR technique. It is
hypothesized that the increase in CBF after treatment could alter functional
connectivity in related neural networks. The aim of the current study is to
determine the changes in the functional connectivity in networks with
significantly increased CBF after the drug treatment.