Abstract #0385

Cardiac disease may exacerbate age-related white matter disruptions: improvements are feasible after cardiac rehabilitation

Stefan E. Poirier^1,2, Neville Suskin³, Keith S. St. Lawrence^1,2, J. Kevin Shoemaker⁴, and Udunna C. Anazodo^1,2,5,6

¹Lawson Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada, ²Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada, ³Cardiology, Western University, London, ON, Canada, ⁴School of Kinesiology, Western University, London, ON, Canada, ⁵Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada, ⁶Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

White matter (WM) degeneration is associated with cognitive impairment in coronary artery disease (CAD). We used diffusion tensor imaging to assess WM integrity in brains of CAD patients before and after cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and in young and old healthy controls (HC). Widespread WM changes were observed between older and younger HC, while robust WM changes were observed in WM regions linked to cognition in CAD patients at baseline with improvements following CR. In CAD, disease manifestation and brain aging may contribute to changes in brain WM macrostructure with potential influence on cognition, and these may be quelled by CR.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.