The Brain’s First “Traffic Map” via Unified Structural and Functional Connectivity: Application to Women with Microvascular Dysfunction

Motivation: To understand how the brain selects optimal pathways for functional communication and their implications for neurodegeneration in aging populations. Goal(s): To apply the Unified Structural and Functional Connectivity (USFC) model to explore the relationship between integrated brain pathways and cardiovascular/cognitive function in women with suspected coronary microvascular dysfunction. Approach: We utilized MRI data, cognitive assessments, and coronary-flow-testing to identify key "backbone" connections related to cognition and cardiovascular health through the USFC model. Results: Significant correlations emerged between USFC-pathways, cardiovascular measures (systolic/diastolic-blood-pressure), and cognition (e.g., MoCA), demonstrating that USFC outperformed structural and functional connectivity alone, highlighting the value of integrated models for clinical insights. Impact: The USFC model links brain connectivity with cardiovascular and cognitive health, identifying pathways associated with increased risks of pathological aging and Alzheimer's disease. This study facilitates targeted interventions and improves early diagnostic strategies, providing new promise for vulnerable populations.