血管衰老与神经退行性变相关作用机制的多模态分子影像学研究

Vascular aging often occurs with arterial wall stiffness and decreased cerebrovascular reserve, causing neurovascular unit dysfunction. However, there is no noninvasive method of combined evaluation of the vessel wall and vascular reserve function. This project focuses on the change of cerebral blood flow reserve function caused by vascular aging. By establishment of rhesus animal model, the multimodal molecular images including vessel wall imaging, cerebral vascular reserve function, diffusion tensor imaigng and functional magnetic resonance imaging, we aim to explore the mechanism of vascular aging in the process of early neurodegenerative related brain network abnormalities; to establish a new evaluation system using multimodal molecular imaging to early diagnosis of AD and mild cognitive impairment.

衰老伴随着血管结构和功能的改变，是引起神经血管单元功能失调的重要原因之一。然而，目前尚缺乏有效的影像学手段对老化脑血管壁和继发的血流储备功能进行一站式评价。本项目紧密围绕脑血管衰老导致的脑血流储备功能变化，通过构建老年恒河猴动物模型，整合脑血管壁、脑血流储备功能、纤维束示踪、功能磁共振等多模态分子影像学方法，探索血管衰老在早期神经退行性疾病脑网络异常演进过程中的作用机制；建立多模态分子影像学新评价体系用于AD和轻度认知障碍患者，为神经退行性疾病早期诊断提供一种新的手段。

血管衰老是指血管随着年龄的增长而发生的组织结构及生理功能上的退行性病变的过程。血管衰老与神经元退变进而导致神经功能障碍的相关病理生理学机制尚不明晰。本项目紧密围绕脑血管衰老导致的脑血流储备功能变化，构建了老年恒河猴动物模型，验证了VWMRI、DTI、rsMRI等多模态成像评价方法，探索了血管衰老在早期神经退行性疾病脑网络异常演进过程中的相互作用机制，为阐明神经退行性病病理生理学机制和早期诊断提供了新的手段，本项目共发表SCI论文13篇，获得国家专利6项。