Mind imaging utilizing a mix of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), measuring blood movement and amplified magnetic resonance imaging (aMRI) helped ME researchers discover that blood movement results in stiffness within the hippocampus. Credit score: Caitlin Neher
Researchers have found that elevated blood movement results in stiffness within the hippocampus, a area of the mind that performs necessary roles in studying and reminiscence. The hippocampus is without doubt one of the first areas within the mind affected by Alzheimer’s illness, a mind dysfunction that erodes reminiscence and considering expertise, in addition to the power to do day by day duties.
The findings are printed within the journal Interface Focus.
“For the first time, we found that better blood flow makes the hippocampus area stiffer,” says Affiliate Professor Mehmet Kurt, the director of Kurtlab. “This research suggests that one of the factors impacting hippocampus health might be reduced blood flow. This discovery opens up new potential ways to diagnose Alzheimer’s before memory loss occurs.”
On the UW Heart for Human Neuroscience and on the Icahn Faculty of Medication at Mount Sinai, researchers scanned the brains of 17 volunteers between the ages of twenty-two and 35 utilizing magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). MRE, which mixes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with sound waves, supplies researchers with info to create detailed photos of various ranges of stiffness within the mind.
“We wanted to find out how blood flow could potentially affect brain stiffness through MRE,” says Ph.D. pupil Caitlin Neher, who led the examine. “The hippocampus is the only part of the brain that shows this relationship between blood flow and stiffness. This may be because the hippocampus is a region with strong metabolic demand.”
Utilizing components like blood movement and stiffness parts to quantify mind well being might assist result in earlier detection of neurological ailments like Alzheimer’s, which at present has no remedy. Some research reveal that folks with Alzheimer’s present softening within the hippocampus. One speculation is that in early Alzheimer’s, a discount in blood movement might result in this alteration within the mind, Neher says.
“The study focused on the basic science question of how blood flow and brain stiffness are related,” she says. “It would be interesting to eventually apply this to a patient population by collaborating with UW Medicine. We want to better understand this link between brain stiffness and blood flow, and come up with diagnostic criteria.”
Extra info:
Caitlin Maria Neher et al, Perfusion–mechanics coupling of the hippocampus, Interface Focus (2025). DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2024.0051
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Exploring the hyperlink between blood movement, mind stiffness and Alzheimer’s threat (2025, April 7)
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