Project 458742

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients who have had a recent heart attack are at serious risk of developing cognitive impairment which, without proper intervention, can lead to depression and poor quality of life. Cerebrovascular impairment is considered an early biomarker of cognitive decline in IHD and precedes neurodegeneration and memory loss. To facilitate suitable intervention strategies, a better understanding of the link between heart attack and cognitive decline in IHD is needed. There is emerging evidence that inflammation in the brain may cause brain damage and cognitive impairment. My PhD research aims to link inflammation in the brain to cerebrovascular impairment and neurodegeneration in IHD patients who had a recent heart attack and could be at grave risk for cognitive decline. In this study, we will use hybrid positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) to non-invasively track inflammation and degenerative changes in the brains and hearts of IHD patients (within 4 weeks after heart attack) and age-matched healthy controls. First, we will use [18F]FEPPA, a novel PET tracer, to track inflammation in the brain and heart, and then compare inflammatory levels between patients and controls. Next, we will use anatomical and perfusion MRI to link brain areas showing increased inflammation to cerebrovascular integrity. Finally, we will evaluate whether cardiac rehabilitation attenuates neuroinflammatory and myocardial inflammatory loads in IHD patients who agree to participate in a 6-month cardiac rehabilitation program. By linking inflammation in the brain to cerebrovascular dysfunction and neurodegeneration after heart attack, my PhD research will help elucidate the role of inflammation in driving neurodegeneration post-ischemic injury and will be an important finding for prevention of cognitive decline in IHD.