Arterial Spin Labeling Hemodynamic Indices Relate to Cognitive and Small Vessel Disease Trajectories Over 11 Years
Published in Stroke, 2026
Recommended citation: Robb, W. H., Santner, A. M., Zhang, P., Kim, D. S., Jackson, T. B., Shashikumar, N., Pechman, K. R., Vyas, Y., Liu, D., Davis, L. T., Hohman, T. J. and Jefferson, A. L. (2026). "Arterial Spin Labeling Hemodynamic Indices Relate to Cognitive and Small Vessel Disease Trajectories Over 11 Years." Stroke. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.125.054879. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.125.054879
Introduction
This study examined whether arterial spin labeling (ASL) measurements track cerebral small vessel disease and cognition over up to 11 years.
Methods
The Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project included 667 adults without dementia or stroke. Serial MRI and cognitive testing provided a mean follow-up of 4.9 years. Adjusted regression models evaluated cerebral blood flow and ASL spatial coefficient of variation (ASL-sCoV).
Results
Higher ASL-sCoV was associated with greater white matter hyperintensity and enlarged perivascular space burden at baseline. It also predicted faster white matter hyperintensity accumulation and decline in executive function, information processing, language, and visuospatial performance. Cerebral blood flow showed no significant associations.
Discussion
ASL-sCoV may help characterize vascular dysfunction and subsequent brain changes using existing ASL scans.
Highlights
- Follow-up extended to 11 years.
- ASL-sCoV related to vascular imaging abnormalities and cognitive trajectories.
- Conventional cerebral blood flow measurements showed no significant associations.