Oxygen Extraction Fraction is higher in elderly participants with a higher cardiovascular disease risk; a combined QSM and ASL study

Abstract

We investigated quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and arterial spin labelling (ASL) to measure cerebrovascular parameters in elderly people with a range of vascular disease risk (QRisk) and cognitive impairment. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial transit time (ATT) were derived from ASL and oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) from QSM. Regional estimates were obtained by matching six large veins to their draining territories. QRisk had a significant positive relationship with ATT. OEF had a significant compensatory increase with altered ATT and CBF. Both OEF and ATT were found to be elevated with impaired cognition.