Zhang Hua, Zhang Shiyang, Chen Weicheng, Kong Xianxian, Guo Ruiying, Xu Lixiang
The Third Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University (The First Hospital of Nanchang), Nanchang, China.
The Third Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Neuroradiology. 2025 Jun 9. doi: 10.1007/s00234-025-03636-8.
Cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation is fundamental to maintaining normal brain function and is known to vary with age. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between age and CBF within specific regions of the Middle Cerebral Artery-Alberta Stroke Project Early Computed Tomography Score (MCA-ASPECTS) framework by quantitatively assessing CBF in healthy individuals.
This cross-sectional study included healthy participants who underwent a series of imaging protocols, including head magnetic resonance imaging, three-dimensional arterial spin labeling (3D-ASL), and magnetic resonance angiography. CBF values were analyzed across all MCA-ASPECTS regions to establish reference CBF metrics and evaluate interhemispheric discrepancies. Comparisons were made between corresponding ASPECTS regions in the left and right hemispheres and among 10 unilateral ASPECTS regions. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to examine associations between CBF and age.
The study included 22 healthy volunteers. Significant variations in CBF were observed in the bilateral insula, M1, and M4 regions (P < 0.05). Among the MCA-ASPECTS regions, the highest mean CBF values were found in the bilateral M3 regions and the right insula (55.63 ± 6.56, 57.24 ± 7.75, and 57.63 ± 7.97, respectively), while the lowest were observed in the bilateral internal capsule regions (34.15 ± 5.30 and 35.29 ± 5.23, respectively). The left-right brain CBF difference index was highest in the M1 region (x = 0.061 ± 0.038) and lowest in the M2 region (x = 0.022 ± 0.020). Significant differences in CBF were detected across the ten bilateral MCA-ASPECTS regions (P < 0.001), with most area-to-area comparisons showing statistical significance (P < 0.05). CBF demonstrated significant negative correlations with age in the bilateral insula, bilateral M2, the left caudate, and the right M1 regions, with correlation coefficients ranging from - 0.43 to -0.49 (P < 0.05). In contrast, a positive correlation was observed between age and CBF in the right internal capsule region (correlation coefficient = 0.4, P < 0.05).
Automated quantitative assessment of CBF in MCA-ASPECTS regions using 3D-ASL offers significant advantages, including repeatability, practicality, and clinical relevance. This approach facilitates precise evaluation of regional CBF variations and provides a critical foundation for the quantitative application of 3D-ASL in ischemic stroke diagnosis and management.
脑血流量（CBF）调节对于维持正常脑功能至关重要，且已知其会随年龄变化。本研究旨在通过定量评估健康个体的CBF，调查在大脑中动脉 - 阿尔伯塔卒中项目早期计算机断层扫描评分（MCA - ASPECTS）框架特定区域内年龄与CBF之间的相关性。
这项横断面研究纳入了接受一系列成像检查的健康参与者，包括头部磁共振成像、三维动脉自旋标记（3D - ASL）和磁共振血管造影。分析所有MCA - ASPECTS区域的CBF值，以建立参考CBF指标并评估半球间差异。对左右半球相应的ASPECTS区域以及10个单侧ASPECTS区域进行比较。采用Pearson相关分析来检验CBF与年龄之间的关联。
该研究纳入了22名健康志愿者。在双侧岛叶、M1和M4区域观察到CBF有显著差异（P < 0.05）。在MCA - ASPECTS区域中，双侧M3区域和右侧岛叶的平均CBF值最高（分别为55.63±6.56、57.24±7.75和57.63±7.97），而双侧内囊区域的CBF值最低（分别为34.15±5.30和35.29±5.23）。左右脑CBF差异指数在M1区域最高（x = 0.061±0.038），在M2区域最低（x = 0.022±0.020）。在十个双侧MCA - ASPECTS区域检测到CBF有显著差异（P < 0.001），大多数区域间比较具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。在双侧岛叶、双侧M2、左侧尾状核和右侧M1区域，CBF与年龄呈显著负相关，相关系数范围为 - 0.43至 - 0.49（P < 0.05）。相比之下，在右侧内囊区域观察到年龄与CBF呈正相关（相关系数 = 0.4，P < 0.05）。
使用3D - ASL对MCA - ASPECTS区域的CBF进行自动定量评估具有显著优势，包括可重复性、实用性和临床相关性。这种方法有助于精确评估区域CBF变化，并为3D - ASL在缺血性卒中诊断和管理中的定量应用提供关键基础。
