New Brain Imaging Method Reveals Hidden Pulse Linked to Dementia
Brain pulses may warn of dementia risk.
Why it matters
- First noninvasive tool combining VASO and ASL MRI techniques to measure microscopic brain vessels.
- May predict dementia or cognitive decline.
By the numbers
- Study involved 23 participants: 11 young (20s-early 30s), 12 older (mid-50s-early 60s).
- Older participants with hypertension showed more changes in pulsation.
The big picture
- Developed by USC and Siemens Healthcare US.
- Could advance understanding of brain health and dementia.
- Provides insights into vascular changes with age and disease.
What they're saying
- "Our new method allows us to see, for the first time in people, how the volumes of those tiny blood vessels change with aging and vascular risk factors." - Danny Wang, USC.
Caveats
- Small sample size: 23 participants.
- Predictive value for dementia needs further study.
What’s next
- Larger studies needed to confirm findings.
- Potential clinical applications for dementia prediction.