The variability of functional MRI brain signal increases in Alzheimer's disease at cardiorespiratory frequencies

Timo Tuovinen; Janne Kananen; Zalan Rajna; Johannes Lieslehto; Vesa Korhonen; Riikka Rytty; Heli Mattila; Niko Huotari; Lauri Raitamaa; Heta Helakari; Ahmed Abou Elseoud; Johanna Krüger; Pierre LeVan; Osmo Tervonen; Juergen Hennig; Anne M. Remes; Maiken Nedergaard; Vesa Kiviniemi

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77984-1

Scientific Reports (Dec 2020)

The variability of functional MRI brain signal increases in Alzheimer's disease at cardiorespiratory frequencies

Timo Tuovinen,
Janne Kananen,
Zalan Rajna,
Johannes Lieslehto,
Vesa Korhonen,
Riikka Rytty,
Heli Mattila,
Niko Huotari,
Lauri Raitamaa,
Heta Helakari,
Ahmed Abou Elseoud,
Johanna Krüger,
Pierre LeVan,
Osmo Tervonen,
Juergen Hennig,
Anne M. Remes,
Maiken Nedergaard,
Vesa Kiviniemi

Affiliations

Timo Tuovinen: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Janne Kananen: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Zalan Rajna: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Johannes Lieslehto: Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu
Vesa Korhonen: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Riikka Rytty: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Heli Mattila: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Niko Huotari: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Lauri Raitamaa: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Heta Helakari: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Ahmed Abou Elseoud: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Helsinki University Hospital
Johanna Krüger: Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital
Pierre LeVan: Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Osmo Tervonen: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu
Juergen Hennig: Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Anne M. Remes: Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital
Maiken Nedergaard: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center
Vesa Kiviniemi: Oulu Functional Neuroimaging, Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77984-1
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Biomarkers sensitive to prodromal or early pathophysiological changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) symptoms could improve disease detection and enable timely interventions. Changes in brain hemodynamics may be associated with the main clinical AD symptoms. To test this possibility, we measured the variability of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in individuals from three independent datasets (totaling 80 AD patients and 90 controls). We detected a replicable increase in brain BOLD signal variability in the AD populations, which constituted a robust biomarker for clearly differentiating AD cases from controls. Fast BOLD scans showed that the elevated BOLD signal variability in AD arises mainly from cardiovascular brain pulsations. Manifesting in abnormal cerebral perfusion and cerebrospinal fluid convection, present observation presents a mechanism explaining earlier observations of impaired glymphatic clearance associated with AD in humans.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

About the journal