Overview
- USC’s Stevens INI linked resting measures of cerebrovascular regulation to hallmark Alzheimer’s markers, including lower amyloid burden and larger hippocampal volume.
- Indicators were derived from transcranial Doppler ultrasound and near-infrared spectroscopy, capturing blood-flow and oxygenation dynamics without tasks or injections.
- People with mild cognitive impairment or dementia showed poorer vascular indicators than cognitively normal participants, supporting a vascular role across the disease continuum.
- Signals were modeled to reflect how the brain adjusts to natural fluctuations in blood pressure and carbon dioxide, offering a scalable, noninvasive approach.
- The peer-reviewed study, involving 292 older adults, is cross-sectional; authors cite ongoing longitudinal work to test prediction and utility, with support from NIH/NIA and publication in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.