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Abstract #2698

Regional effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus on cerebral blood flow and brain anatomy using MRI and Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling MRI at 3 Tesla

Last D, Alsop D, Abduljalil A, Marquis R, Robles C, Novak V
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School

The regional effects of diabetes (DM) on cerebral vasoregulation and on brain anatomy were studied on 26 controls and 26 subjects with DM. IR-FGE and FLAIR images were acquired to assess the volumes of CSF, gray and white matter and white matter changes (WMC). Using Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling, perfusion maps were acquired over four 5-minute breathing exercises: baseline, CO2 rebreathing, hyperventilation and a second baseline. Eight regions were defined on each image allowing the computation of the spatial distribution of all parameters. Cerebrovascular reserve was reduced in DM compared to healthy subjects. Brain atrophy affected more DM patients. No difference was observed for WMC. These data suggest that atrophy might affect reserve. The effects of WMC on reserve remain unclear.