SeminarPast EventBrain Imaging

Taking the pulse of ageing: the role of cerebrovascular risk factors in ageing and dementia

Schedule
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
22:30 UTC
Monica Fabiani

Prof.

Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois

Host: Ad hoc

Event Information

Host

Ad hoc

Duration

70 minutes

Abstract

Cerebrovascular support is critical for healthy cognitive ageing. Reduced cerebral blood flow in ageing is caused, among other things, by hypertension, arteriosclerosis (i.e. stiffening of the arteries) and plaque formation. Arterial stiffness is predictive of cognitive decline, is a critical risk factor for cerebrovascular accidents, and has been linked to heightened risks for Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. The elasticity of cerebral arteries is influenced by lifestyle factors, including cardiorespiratory fitness. Monica will discuss data obtained in their laboratory with new noninvasive measures of cerebrovascular health (pulse-DOT, a diffuse optical tomographic method for studying cerebral arteriosclerosis), in conjunction with structural and functional brain measures and cognitive assessments. These findings support a model in which localised changes in arteriosclerosis lead to specific profiles of structural, functional, and cognitive declines, paving a way to individualised interventions.

We use essential cookies to run the site. Analytics cookies are optional and help us improve World Wide. Learn more.