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Defining microvascular structure and function in the aged cervical spinal cord

Award Number: R03AG073929
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/15/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

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Defining microvascular structure and function in the aged cervical spinal cord - Abstract The older population (≥65 years old) represents the fastest growing age group in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people 65 years of age or older living in the United States is projected to double by 2030 to 72 million adults, representing 20% of the total U.S. population [1]. Normal aging results in a nearly 30% reduction of microvasculature in the cerebral cortex with significant drops in capillary density, vascular responses to metabolic demand, and reduced angiogenic capabilities. This phenomenon of reduced blood vessel density and blood supply in normal aging is thought to underlie the “sensitive” nature of the aging brain to ischemic injuries. The aged spinal cord is also vulnerable to injuries; in recent years, ground levels falls resulting in spinal cord injuries (SCI) are among the most common trauma suffered by older patients presenting to the emergency room. Unfortunately we know next to nothing about how spinal cord microvasculature and hemodynamic changes with age. The present study aims to address this knowledge gap. We hypothesize that there are significant alterations to the microvasculature in the cervical spine with aging, which confer increased vulnerability to injuries. Our group has recently developed novel methods, using powerful intravital ultrafast contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging, to visualize blood flow within the microvasculature with unparalleled temporal (30,000 frames per second) and spatial (down to 50 micron) resolution. An important departure from other imaging modalities, where microvascular flow is examined just a few hundred microns deep from the surface of the tissue (e.g., laser speckle and two photon imaging), ultrafast CEUS imaging allows us to examine intraparenchymal microvascular structure and blood flow hemodynamics within the entire depth of the spinal cord tissue in real- time. We will apply this innovative intravital imaging to study 1) intraspinal microvasculature anatomy and function during normal aging, and 2) age-related microvascular vulnerabilities after tSCI. Additionally, cerebral blood flow and microvascular density differences have been detected between males and females in both human and rodent models. Therefore, microvascular changes during normal aging will be examined in both sexes. Results from this study will be foundational to understanding sex and age-related alterations in both the static and dynamic microvascular function of the spinal cord.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON	4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE	SEATTLE	WA	98195	KING	USA	Aging Research	000	2	6/26/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $78,163 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON	4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE	SEATTLE	WA	98195	KING	USA	Aging Research	000	2	4/5/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$78,163
														Subtotal = $78,163

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $78,154 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON	4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE	SEATTLE	WA	98195	KING	USA	Aging Research	000	1	6/13/2022	NEW	$78,154
														Subtotal = $78,154

Grand Total All Awards = $156,317

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Defining microvascular structure and function in the aged cervical spinal cord

Award Number: R03AG073929

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/15/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

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