Carotid Artery Stenting Intervention to Enhance Global Brain Blood Flow and Cognition in Carotid Artery Disease: Preliminary Findings from a Prospective Follow-Up MRI Study

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: The benefit of carotid artery stenting (CAS) for stroke prevention has been established, but less is known about CAS's effect on cognition. Here, we investigate (1) changes in the blood flow in both treated and non-treated carotid arteries, (2) associations between the severity of artery occlusion and CAS-induced flow change, and (3) whether the flow changes relate to cognitive improvement. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: We used quantitative flow magnetic resonance imaging to assess blood flow and computerized neurocognitive assessment to evaluate cognitive performance. Fourteen patients identified for CAS as part of their standard care participated in this study; ten completed the CAS procedure and the pre- and post-CAS assessments (age = 77.0 ± 5.6; 70% males). <i>Results</i>: An increased ipsilateral flow following CAS was seen in 70% of the participants, while 50% also showed an increase in the total flow. The participants with ≥90% stenosis showed the greatest flow changes, such that the post-CAS flow was 60% higher relative to pre-CAS (<i>p</i> < 0.050). Cognitive responses to the flow increase were variable: attention showed a positive association; in comparison, higher cognitive flexibility and memory were only seen when treated stenosis was below 80%. <i>Conclusions</i>: Our preliminary findings highlight the impact of CAS and the complex relationship between blood flow and cognitive changes post-CAS, warranting larger-scale studies with extended follow-up periods.