Female vulnerability to microvascular transport dysfunction emerges early across the Alzheimer's disease continuum.
M, X., Y, G., P, O., H, Y., J, W., W, L., N, S., Y, S., L, F., & L, G. (2026). Female vulnerability to microvascular transport dysfunction emerges early across the Alzheimer's disease continuum.. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71811
M X, Y G, P O, H Y, J W, W L, et al. Female vulnerability to microvascular transport dysfunction emerges early across the Alzheimer's disease continuum.. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2026; doi: 10.1002/alz.71811
M X, Y G, P O, et al. Female vulnerability to microvascular transport dysfunction emerges early across the Alzheimer's disease continuum.[J]. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2026. DOI: 10.1002/alz.71811.
@article{m2026,
author = {Xu M and Gao Y and Ou P and Yang H and Wang J and Liu W and Shu N and Sun Y and Fu L and Glodzik L},
title = {Female vulnerability to microvascular transport dysfunction emerges early across the Alzheimer's disease continuum.},
journal = {Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1002/alz.71811},
note = {PMID: 42675347},
}
TY - JOUR AU - Xu M AU - Gao Y AU - Ou P AU - Yang H AU - Wang J AU - Liu W AU - Shu N AU - Sun Y AU - Fu L AU - Glodzik L TI - Female vulnerability to microvascular transport dysfunction emerges early across the Alzheimer's disease continuum. T2 - Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association PY - 2026 DO - 10.1002/alz.71811 AN - PMID:42675347 ER -
INTRODUCTION: We tested whether quantitative transport mapping (QTM)-derived perfusion velocity would detect earlier and more sex-specific microvascular alterations than cerebral blood flow (CBF) across the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum. METHODS: In 182 participants (cognitively normal = 53, subjective cognitive decline [SCD] = 48, mild cognitive impairment [MCI] = 31, AD = 50), seven-delay arterial spin labeling was used to derive CBF and QTM velocity. Age/sex-adjusted models assessed diagnostic and sex effects, associations with plasma biomarkers and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and mediation of the hippocampal volume-cognition relationship. RESULTS: QTM velocity was reduced already in SCD, including the hippocampus, whereas CBF declined mainly in MCI/AD. Sex × Diagnosis interactions were significant for QTM in gray and white matter, but not for CBF. QTM, especially in females, was inversely associated with plasma NfL/GFAP, related to MMSE, and parietal QTM partially mediated the hippocampal volume-MMSE association. DISCUSSION: QTM is a non-invasive biomarker more sensitive than CBF to early, female-biased microvascular transport dysfunction in AD.