# Intracranial Vascular Compliance as an Early Imaging Marker of Alzheimer's Disease

> **NIH NIH K25** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2021 · $150,676

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The proposed work is designed to prepare the applicant with training necessary to establish an independent
investigator in the field of interdisciplinary biomedical imaging science, with particular focus on MRI-based
assessment of neurodegenerative disease. The central core of the training will involve closing the gap between
the applicant's biophysics background and her limited exposure to pathophysiology and clinical research in
order to enhance understanding of the clinical implications and biomedical needs of novel MRI techniques
toward translating imaging methodology to the clinical applications. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
(AD) is critical for developing therapeutic strategies to prevent, slow or even halt progressive disease. A
growing body of evidence suggests cerebrovascular dysfunction may occur relatively early and proceeds the
cognitive decline and onset of neurodegenerative changes in AD. Vascular compliance (VC) or arterial
stiffness is an important indicator of vascular dysfunction. Currently, VC can be only assessed from central and
peripheral arteries using pulse wave velocity (PWV). Recently, we have developed a non-invasive MRI
technique for assessment of intracranial VC using dynamic arterial spin labeling (ASL). The goal of the
research component of this proposal is to further develop and optimize the noninvasive intracranial VC
techniques, and to evaluate intracranial VC as an early imaging marker by comparison with other established
biomarkers. We hypothesize that intracranial VC is able to serve as an early imaging marker in the
development of AD. The hypotheses will be addressed with the following three specific aims: 1) We will further
develop and optimize the intracranial VC technique to improve the reliability of VC measurement. 2) We design
a cross-sectional study to measure and compare intracranial VC in four age-equivalent groups including
cognitively normal (CN) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with and without APOE ϵ4 genotype. 3) We
correlate intracranial VC with the established AD biomarkers. The expected outcome is a noninvasive MRI tool
for assessment of intracranial VC or arterial stiffness, and developing intracranial VC as an early imaging
marker of AD, which may deepen our understanding of cerebrovascular contributions to AD pathogenesis. This
career development award will provide the applicant necessary training to integrate her expertise with clinical
translational studies and develop into an independent investigator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10163760
- **Project number:** 5K25AG056594-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Lirong Yan
- **Activity code:** K25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $150,676
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10163760

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10163760, Intracranial Vascular Compliance as an Early Imaging Marker of Alzheimer's Disease (5K25AG056594-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10163760. Licensed CC0.

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