Neurovascular Data Files

Neurovascular coupling is a critical brain mechanism whereby changes to
blood flow accompany localised neural activity. The breakdown of
neurovascular coupling is linked to the development and progression of
several neurological conditions including dementia. In this study, we
examined cortical haemodynamics in preparations that modelled Alzheimer’s
disease (J20-AD) and atherosclerosis (PCSK9-ATH) between 9-12m of age. We
report novel findings with atherosclerosis where neurovascular decline is
characterised by significantly reduced blood volume, levels of
oxyhaemoglobin & deoxyhaemoglobin, in addition to global
neuroinflammation. In the comorbid mixed model (J20-PCSK9-MIX), we report
a 3x fold increase in hippocampal amyloid-beta plaques. A key finding was
that cortical spreading depression (CSD) due to electrode insertion into
the brain was worse in the diseased animals and led to a prolonged period
of hypoxia. These findings suggest that systemic atherosclerosis can be
detrimental to neurovascular health and that having cardiovascular
comorbidities can exacerbate pre-existing Alzheimer’s-related
amyloid-plaques.