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Arterial Spin-Labeling MRI Identifies Abnormal Perfusion Metric at the Gray Matter/CSF Interface in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Abdelkader Mahammedi, Ates Fettahoglu, Jeremy Josef Heit, Joanna Marguerite Wardlaw, Greg Zaharchuk. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 2025-06-12
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Thirty-two patients met the inclusion criteria (n=11 moderate-to-severe SVD, mean age 72 ± 10 years, 6 women; n = 21 none-to-minimal SVD, mean age 70 ± 10 years, 12 women). Of the measured perfusion markers, nGCI had the strongest negative correlation with Fazekas score, total WMH volume, PVS grade, and average total SVD score (r = −0.68, −0.67, −0.54, −0.54, respectively; P < .001) as well as the highest area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (0.95, 95% CI: 0.87–1.0) as a predictor of WMH severity. nGCI, a novel perfusion metric that may capture features of perfusion at the GM-CSF boundary, was strongly correlated with WMH and PVS severity. Further, longitudinal studies are required to determine the potential role of nGCI as a predictive marker of SVD progression.
Key findings
- Thirty-two patients met the inclusion criteria (n=11 moderate-to-severe SVD, mean age 72 ± 10 years, 6 women; n = 21 none-to-minimal SVD, mean age 70 ± 10 years, 12 women).
- Of the measured perfusion markers, nGCI had the strongest negative correlation with Fazekas score, total WMH volume, PVS grade, and average total SVD score (r = −0.68, −0.67, −0.54, −0.54, respectively; P < .001) as well as the highest area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (0.95, 95% CI: 0.87–1.0) as a predictor of WMH severity.
- Further, longitudinal studies are required to determine the potential role of nGCI as a predictive marker of SVD progression.
Why it matters
This study found that a new blood flow measurement on MRI was strongly linked to markers of small vessel disease in the brain in a small group of 32 patients. It is an imaging study in a small sample and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (American Journal of Neuroradiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | American Journal of Neuroradiology: journal h-index 182 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Greg Zaharchuk: h-index 73 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Stanford University: institution h-index 2,684 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40506229) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a8682
- PubMed: 40506229
- Original source →
- Free full text: American Journal of Neuroradiology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Mahammedi, A., Fettahoglu, A., Heit, J. J., Wardlaw, J. M., & Zaharchuk, G. (2025). Arterial Spin-Labeling MRI Identifies Abnormal Perfusion Metric at the Gray Matter/CSF Interface in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. American Journal of Neuroradiology. https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.a8682
Vancouver
Mahammedi A, Fettahoglu A, Heit JJ, Wardlaw JM, Zaharchuk G. Arterial Spin-Labeling MRI Identifies Abnormal Perfusion Metric at the Gray Matter/CSF Interface in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 2025. doi:10.3174/ajnr.a8682. PMID: 40506229.
BibTeX
@article{mahammedi2025-40506229,
author = {Mahammedi, Abdelkader and Fettahoglu, Ates and Heit, Jeremy Josef and Wardlaw, Joanna Marguerite and Zaharchuk, Greg},
title = {{Arterial Spin-Labeling MRI Identifies Abnormal Perfusion Metric at the Gray Matter/CSF Interface in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease}},
journal = {American Journal of Neuroradiology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3174/ajnr.a8682},
pmid = {40506229},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.a8682}
}
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