A novel method for evaluating cerebrovascular health in a patient in response to exercise.by Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

A novel method for evaluating cerebrovascular health in a patient in response to exercise. The method offers significant advantages over the traditional methods for monitoring cerebrovascular health and overcomes many of the limitations and concerns with understanding the fundamental mechanisms controlling cerebrovascular function. This is important because understanding the middle cerebral artery dynamic response during different exercise intensities is vital for understanding brain health, overall cerebrovascular function and designing and evaluating exercise strategies for maximizing therapeutic potential.

Overview:

The method detects and monitors middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity in response to exercise. It uses different exercise work rates to measure the amplitude and kinetics response of the middle cerebral artery. The data may be used to determine the optimal exercise intensity to maximize brain health especially those following stroke and at higher risk of vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Applications:

Cerebrovascular control changes in response to external stimuli, such as concussions, strokes, and brain-aging issues. The traditional method for measuring blood flow changes in the brain is by using an MRI and only during resting conditions. This new method has established utility for easier testing and is more available than an MRI.

How it works:

The method involves the middle cerebral artery blood flow being measured throughout rest and exercise for a specified period of time. The middle cerebral artery blood flow is compared to the kinetics response and described by the response amplitude, time delay, and time constant.

Benefits:

By using the middle cerebral artery blood flow kinetic response, it will provide a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms controlling cerebrovascular function and will increase the overall understanding of cerebrovascular health. Understanding cerebrovascular health will help with being able to maximize brain health, especially those who are following a stroke or are at a higher risk of vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Why it is better:

This represents a promising method for detecting and monitoring the middle cerebral artery blood flow. This method is more advantageous than the current methods (MRI) and allows for the evaluation of cerebrovascular control during physical demand, such as exercise.  This method is better because it is the first to measure fluid velocity and flow to an external stimuli from rest to exercise. The novelty in this method lies in the ability to possibly detect increased blood flow response to external stimuli in a manner that has not yet been described anywhere else. This would also allow for easier testing and better availability than an MRI.

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