MRA Derived Cerebral Arterial Flow Features Associated with White Matter Hyperintensity

Motivation: The morphology of cerebral arteries contributes to the development of white matter hyperintensity (WMH), yet the influence of arterial blood flow on WMH remains unclear. Goal(s): Identify associations of cerebral arterial flow features with WMH. Approach: 2631 individuals were involved. Arterial flow features were obtained using the individual-specific simplified hemodynamic model. WMHs were quantified from T2-FLAIR images. Results: Both increased mean flow rate and pressure were associated with increased WMH volume. Adjacent Lesion Terminal Arterial Branches exhibited greater length, tortuosity, lower mean flow rates and pressure drops. Impact: The hemodynamic features surrounding WMH exhibited significant difference compared to distant arteries. Such morphology and corresponding hemodynamic changes might contribute to the development of WMH.