Retinal vascular reactivity is associated with white matter hyperintensities and dysfunctional cerebrovascular reactivity in cerebral small vessel disease.

ABSTRACT: Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is characterised by white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and contributes to stroke and dementia. Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) declines with worsening cSVD but estimates of CVR from brain scans give limited information about the coordination of individual arterioles or venules. Retinovascular reactivity can provide separate data about arterioles and venules, but it is not known if retinovascular reactivity correlates with CVR in people with cSVD. We aimed to assess retinal vascular reactivity in people with cSVD and explore associations with WMH and CVR in a cross-sectional study. Participants had retinal photographs and magnetic resonance brain imaging (MRI) before and during inhalation of 6% CO₂ in air. We recruited 60 participants. 48 pr

SUBMITTER: Blair GW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12331647 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature