Scientists have created a new measure based on the blood flow in our brain. This measure is important for brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
Each time the heart beats, it pushes blood through the brain vessels, causing them to expand and then relax, similar to the way blood pulses through your veins when you feel your pulse in your wrist. This pulsation in the brain helps to evenly distribute blood to different areas of the brain, making sure that all parts receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to work correctly. In good health, this process is consistent.The pulse wave is reduced in the small vessels to prevent potential harm from high pulsatility. This new measurement assesses the risk of small vessel pulsatility in a comprehensive way.
Sergio Dempsey, along with colleagues Dr Soroush Safaei and Dr Gonzalo Maso Talou from Auckland Bioengineering Institute, and co-author Dr Holdsworth from Mātai and FMHS & CBR at the University of Auckland, recently published a paper in Scientific Reports- Nature. The paper introduces a new metric based on 4D flow MRI technology.
This groundbreaking metric is especially important due to the increase in vasCerebral pulsatility is associated with various brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and different types of dementia. By precisely assessing the transmission of pulsatility in the brain, scientists can gain a better understanding of the causes of these diseases and potentially influence the development of new treatments.
Existing MRI techniques are hindered by anatomical differences and measurement limitations. The new method overcomes this challenge by incorporating thousands of measurements across all brain vessels, as opposed to focusing on one area at a time like traditional methods. This results in a more comprehensive measure that represents the entire brain.
“The potential to measure how pulsatility is transmitted through the brain’s arteries could significantly change the way we approach neurological diseases and support research on vascular damage hypotheses,” Mr. Dempsey stated. “Our approach enables a thorough evaluation of the brain’s vascular health, which is frequently compromised in neurodegenerative disorders.”
The research also emphasized the possibility of improving clinical assessments and research on brain health. By incorporating this new metric into standard diagnostic procedures, healthcare providers can provide more accurate and personalized care plans for individuals at risk or experiencing such disorders.”The researchers have developed a new tool for assessing cognitive impairments in patients, which has significant implications for patient care. They have also made their tools publicly available by integrating them into existing open-source software. This allows scientists and clinicians around the world to use this advanced methodology, leading to increased research and collaboration in the field of neurology.
The research team is also planning further studies to explore the applications of this technique in larger and more diverse populations. They will begin with the “Digital Twin Dementia Study” at Mātai later this month. The initial study of the metric has already identified important findings.There are significant differences in the way blood vessels behave between men and women. This has sparked a new research study that will specifically look at how these dynamics vary between the sexes. The study is set to start at Mātai and the Centre for Advanced MRI (CAMRI) in November.
