Awards and Awards: R01, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Reduced clearance of brain waste has emerged as a possible factor underlying neurodegeneration. Although it has long been hypothesized that vascular conditions may reduce the brain’s clearance capacity (through reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF), and diminished vascular pulsations), there is no direct evidence in humans supporting the pathway from vascular disease and hemodynamic impairment to brain clearance deficit and neurodegeneration. Using innovative positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, we will examine whether the presence of hypertension (HTN) and reduced CBF is related to impaired brain clearance. The project also gathers data to answer the question whether normalization of blood pressure improves clearance.