title: Use of total cerebral blood flow as an imaging biomarker of known cardiovascular risks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined whether overall cerebral blood flow was associated with known vascular risk factors, including cardiometabolic risk factors that comprise the metabolic syndrome, carotid artery intima-media thickness, and the Framingham risk score.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three separate samples were available for analysis. Two comparable samples were combined to form a primary sample of middle-aged participants (n=576; 30-55 years of age) that completed both a risk factor assessment and a resting brain scan. Samples were recruited via mailings and advertisements within an urban area. Quantitative measures of cerebral blood flow were derived from arterial spin-labeled MRI in this sample and in a validation/generalization sample (n=76; 30-55 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cerebral blood flow was inversely associated with cardiometabolic risk indices, that is, associated with lower waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, glucose, and triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein. Moreover, cerebral blood flow was also related to Framingham risk and carotid intima-media thickness. In the validation sample, which used a slightly different brain imaging technique, significant relationships were replicated for cardiometabolic risk, but not for Framingham risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced cerebral blood flow seems to be a correlate of vascular disease risk factors associated with cardiometabolic dysregulation. Cerebral blood flow may provide a valid imaging biomarker for cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. JenningsJR@upmc.edu
authors.forename: J Richard
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Alicia F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.forename: Dora Chieh-Hsin
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kuan
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gianaros
authors.forename: Matthew F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Muldoon
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Manuck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Framingham risk; biological markers; brain diseases, metabolic; carotid intima-media thickness; cerebral blood flow; magnetic resonance imaging; neuroimaging; vascular diseases