Reduced Regional Cerebral White Matter Perfusion in Middle‐Aged Hispanic Adults

Abstract

BackgroundHispanics are at least 1.5 times more likely to have mild cognitive impairment and exhibit dementia symptoms 7 years earlier than non‐Hispanic Caucasians. Regional cerebral hypoperfusion has been implicated as an initial event in the pathogenesis of dementia.AimTo compare cerebral perfusion in brain regions susceptible to vascular related hypoperfusion in Hispanic and non‐Hispanic Caucasian adults.MethodsApparently healthy middle‐aged Hispanic (n=16) and non‐Hispanic Caucasian (n=16) subjects were matched across age, gender, years of education, and cognitive status. Arterial spin labeled perfusion magnetic resonance imaging estimated cerebral blood flow in a priori brain regions of interest.ResultsMean cerebral perfusion was significantly lower in the Hispanic cohort than matched non‐Hispanic Caucasian peers in the right (38±32 vs. 76±22 ml/100 g/min, p=0.005) and left posterior white matter (39±32 vs. 72±31 ml/100 g/min, p=0.047). These differences remained significant even after controlling for blood pressure (p<0.05).ConclusionsMiddle‐aged Hispanic adults demonstrated significantly lower cerebral perfusion to the right and left posterior white matter compared with matched non‐Hispanic Caucasian peers. Hypoperfusion in these regions may contribute to cerebrovascular changes that could lead to early cognitive declines in the Hispanic population.Supported in part by grants from the American Heart Association (09BGIA2060722, APH), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS75565, APH), the National Institute on Aging (F31 AG040890, MMG), and American Federation for Aging Research (8A0024, APH).