Abstract #3742

Arterial Spin Labeling Reproducibility and Potential for Predicting Hemodynamic Alterations in Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimers Disease

Tracy L. Wilson¹, Brandon A. Ally²,³, Erin P. Hussey³, Swati D. Rane¹, Tricia A. Thornton-Wells⁴,⁵, Shashwath A. Meda⁴,⁵, John C. Gore¹, Manus J.

¹Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; ²Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; ³Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; ⁴Center for Human Genetics Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; ⁵Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Noninvasive MRI approaches capable of assessing tissue-level modulations in cerebral hemodynamics hold significant potential for gauging disease severity and progression in patients with, and at-risk for, Alzheimer's disease (AD). We implemented a customized arterial spin labeling (ASL) sequence specifically capable of assessing cerebral blood flow (CBF), simultaneously in cortical and subcortical structures. The ASL technique implemented showed high reproducibility in young and older adults. In patients, we observed positive relationships between cortical CBF and cognitive performance in all volunteers, but an inverse trend between hippocampus CBF and cognitive performance in at-risk and control participants.