Lower cerebral blood flow in subjects with Alzheimer's dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and subjective cognitive decline using two‐dimensional phase‐contrast magnetic resonance imaging

Introduction In this cross‐sectional study, we aimed to detect differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) between subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and subjective cognitive decline (SCD), using two‐dimensional phase‐contrast magnetic resonance imaging. Methods We included 74 AD patients (67 years, 51% female), 36 MCI patients (66 years, 33% female), and 62 patients with SCD (60 years, 32% female) from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort. Patients with SCD are those who visited the memory clinic with subjective cognitive complaints without objective cognitive impairment. Whole‐brain CBF (mL/100 g/min) was calculated using total volume flow measured with two‐dimensional phase‐contrast magnetic resonance imaging and normalized for brain volume. Results Mean CBF values (SD) were lower in AD compared to SCD (age and sex adjusted 70 ± 26 vs. 82 ± 24 mL/100 g/min, P < .05). Mean CBF values of MCI were comparable to AD. Across clinical groups, lower CBF was associated with lower scores on the Mini–Mental State Examination (age and sex adjusted stβ = 0.19 per mL/100 g/min; P = .02). Discussion Lower whole‐brain CBF is seen in AD patients compared to SCD patients and is associated with worse cognitive function.