Brain oxygen extraction and neural tissue susceptibility are associated with cognitive impairment in older individuals

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of aging, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and cognitive impairment on brain iron levels and cerebral oxygen metabolism, known to be altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD), using quantitative susceptibility mapping and MR-based cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF). METHODS: were assessed between groups, using multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: in temporoparietal regions in the cognitively impaired. CONCLUSIONS: but are modified by the presence of cognitive impairment.