New biomarkers for the aging Brain
Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research in Japan identified changes to the aging brain that are related to blood flow. Published in the scientific journal Brain, the study found that natural age-related enlargement of the ventricles–a condition called ventriculomegaly–was associated with a lag in blood drainage from a specific deep region of the brain. This lag is easily detected with MRI. It can then be used as a biomarker to predict ventriculomegaly, and the aging of the brain.
Ventriculomegaly occurs when fluid builds up in the ventricles without draining properly, causing them to enlarge. Although ventricular enlargement in the normal range is not considered a disorder, if left unchecked, it can cause ventriculomegaly or dementia due to normal pressure hydrocephalus. The team’s study found that changes in brain blood circulation were associated with ventriculomegaly. Toshihiko Ao, the first author of the study, explains that they found an age-related shift in perfusion timing within brain venous systems. This was similar to ventricular enlargement but occurred slightly earlier.
The deoxygenated blood, after it circulates through our brain and provides oxygen to the brain, must return back to our heart via veins. The blood drains from two different areas of the brain. One drains from the surface and the other is from deeper in the brain. BDR’s team recently discovered that, as we age and the blood drains through the two pathways, it becomes slower. This results in a growing time difference between the deep drainage path and the surface drainage pathway.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-biomarker-aging-brain.html
