Changes in vessel density in genetic cerebral small vessel disease (CADASIL) revealed by high-resolution black-blood MRI: A pilot study

Motivation: Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is a leading cause of vascular dementia in the elderly worldwide. No existing MRI methods can directly visualize cerebral small vessels. Goal(s): Evaluation of a novel pipeline for mapping small blood vessels using high-resolution black-blood MRI in genetic cSVD (CADASIL) patients. Approach: Small blood vessels were segmented and quantified in 10 CADASIL patients and 10 matched healthy controls. Results: Significantly lower vessel density has been found in the hippocampus of the patients, whereas the vessel density is significantly higher in cortical white matter of patients compared to the control. Impact: Visualization and quantification methods of small cerebral blood vessels from high-resolution black blood MRI which would facilitate the study of cSVD mechanisms.