A recent study from Alzheimer’s disease researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison used neuroimaging technology called 4D Flow MRI to study the relationship between blood vessel disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Published in December 2021, the study found that people with Alzheimer’s disease symptoms had stiffer blood vessels in their brains, which could lead to inflammation and a buildup of Alzheimer’s biomarkers like amyloid and tau proteins. Lead researcher Leonardo Rivera-Rivera joins the podcast to discuss his findings, the developments made with new 4D Flow MRI scans, and how these developments could impact future Alzheimer’s disease research and clinical practices.

Guest: Leonardo Rivera-Rivera, PhD, neuroimaging scientist, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

8:55 How does the 4D Flow MRI technology used in your study compare to MRIs used in clinics?

13:18 What did you look at in your study? What were your findings?

17:54 Did you see more pronounced findings in particular individuals with APOE4 or other chronic conditions like diabetes?

20:37 Why is this an important finding for Alzheimer’s disease research? Do you think 4D flow MRIs could be incorporated into clinical settings?

Read Leonardo Rivera-Rivera’s publication “Cerebrovascular stiffness and flow dynamics in the presence of amyloid and tau biomarkers,” published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 

Learn more about Leonardo Rivera-Rivera’s research at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center website.