Meeting Banner
Abstract #2021

Assessment of Brain Cholinergic Function Using Arterial Spin Labeling

Tamara Fong1, Weiying Dai2, Li-Wen Huang3, Leo Waterson3, Sharon Inouye4, David Alsop2

1Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States; 2Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States; 3Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School; 4Gerontology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

The cholinergic system plays a key role in human cognition. in vivo imaging of cholinergic function has the potential of advancing our understanding of its effects on regional and network activity. Here we examine the cholinergic system in vivo using pharmacologic arterial spin-labeling (ASL) perfusion MRI. Fifteen subjects were administrated anticholinergic drugs (mecamylamine or scopolamine or combined) to induce cholinergic blockade. ASL was used to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF) after administration. in vivo results showed cholinergic blockade caused significant CBF changes and worse cognitive performance.

Abstract PDF

Keywords

achieved activity administration agents aging analyzed arterial assessment attention battery beth bilaterally blinded blockade blood brain caused cerebellum cerebral characterize cluster cognition cognitive combined concentration conditions confirm consciousness consistent continuous controlled corrected cortex cortical crossover days deaconess decreased deficits delirium dementia disease disruption double drug drugs dysfunction encoding error examining family fifteen findings flow frontal function general gerontology healthy identify impaired impairments implicated in vivo inhibitory interaction journal kernel kinetic known labeling likewise linear lingual little measures medical memory metabolism model modulated motion motor network neurology normalized occipital occurs overlaid parietal participants participated peak performance perfusion pharmacological placebo plays pole previous probe processes projections psychiatry pulsed quantified radiology randomized rare reminding repeated reported reveal role school selective sensitive separate smoothed software space spin spiral statistically structural structures studies subject subjects suggesting superior supplementary system temporal term thalamus threshold trails underlying underwent variety visual wise worse young