Grant: Operating Grant

Abnormal function of the blood vessels in the brain has been identified as a potential factor in the development and/or progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our group has previously identified reduced blood flow in mouse models of AD using specialized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. This technique primarily examined blood flow in the smaller brain vessels, called capillaries. In this proposed project, we seek to evaluate the function of larger vessels, called arteries and arterioles. These larger vessels are known to accumulate abnormal amounts of a protein, called beta-amyloid, in AD patients and in mouse models of AD. This approach may provide an early indicator of the risk for the development and progression of AD.