CADASIL mice are characterized by simultaneous metabolic and vascular stress

Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is the second leading cause of dementia and is often mixed with other pathologies. Related mouse models with relatively pure vascular pathologies are used for mechanistic studies or therapeutic trials. CADASIL (Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) is a monogenic condition causing lacunar strokes and vascular dementia. Using the established mouse model of CADASIL, we aimed to investigate potential microvascular dysfunctions with advanced non-contrast MRI techniques. We found that CADASIL mice displayed elevated oxygen consumption and impaired cerebrovascular reactivity, suggesting simultaneous metabolic and vascular stress.