title: Imaging markers of cerebrovascular pathologies: Pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and risk factors.
abstract: Cerebrovascular pathologies (CVPs) are common pathologies associated with age-related cognitive decline along with Alzheimer disease pathologies. The impact of CVP on the prevalence of dementia is increasingly being recognized. The goal of this review is to improve our understanding of the pathophysiological underpinnings and the multimodal magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography imaging changes that are associated with the hallmarks of CVP. This knowledge will facilitate the development of early detection, intervention, and prevention strategies that may contribute to lowering the risk of dementia. In this review, we will first discuss currently known risk factors of CVPs including cardiovascular, lifestyle, genetic, sex differences, and head injury. Next, we will focus on the pathophysiology of CVPs and their impact on neurodegeneration and downstream cognitive impairment. Specifically, we will discuss three of the most common cerebrovascular lesions seen on MRI: white-matter hyperintensity, microbleeds, and infarcts. Finally, we will discuss the unanswered open questions in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Mekala R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Kejal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kantarci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Clifford R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jack
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Prashanthi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vemuri
keywords: Aging; Cerebrovascular; Imaging; Pathophysiology