Abstract #3162

Extracranial Carotid Artery Disease is Associated with Decreased Ipsilateral Cortical Surface Area in Regions Relevant to Cognitive Decline

Haley E Wiskoski^1,2, Summan Zahra², Juan Arias², Zahra Khakwani², Scott French², Loi Do¹, Arun Pugazhendhi³, Raza Mushtaq⁴, Kevin Johnson³, Maria Altbach³, Theodore Trouard¹, Gene Alexander⁵, and Craig Weinkauf²

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States, ²Department of Surgery, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States, ³Department of Medical Imaging, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States, ⁴Department of Neuroradiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States, ⁵Department of Psychology, Neurology, and Neuroscience, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Other Neurodegeneration, Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Aging, Carotid, Morphometry, Segmentation, DMN

Motivation: The impact of asymptomatic extracranial carotid artery disease (aECAD) on brain structure, specifically cortical surface area (SA) and thickness, remains underexplored, yet may clarify aECAD’s role in dementia risk.

Goal(s): This study investigates how aECAD affects SA and thickness in brain regions vulnerable in neurodegenerative disease, specifically the Default Mode Network (DMN) and AD Signature.

Approach: SA and thickness were calculated via FreeSurfer in 140 adults with aECAD / cardiovascular risk factors, and analyzed in DMN and AD Signature ipsilateral and contralateral to side of stenosis.

Results: Significant ipsilateral SA reductions suggest a localized vascular mechanism distinct from age- or disease-related cortical thinning.

Impact: Findings highlight that aECAD impacts cortical surface area rather than thickness, revealing a distinct vascular pathway to dementia. This insight points to potential targets for early intervention in high-risk individuals and suggests further research into vascular health’s role in neurodegeneration.

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