Rare neurovascular genetic and imaging markers across neurodegenerative diseases

INTRODUCTION Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is common in patients with cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. This study investigated the burden of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based markers of SVD in patients with neurodegenerative diseases as a function of rare genetic variant carrier status. METHODS The Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative study included 520 participants, recruited from 14 tertiary care centers, diagnosed with various neurodegenerative diseases and determined the carrier status of rare non‐synonymous variants in five genes (ABCC6, COL4A1/COL4A2, NOTCH3/HTRA1). RESULTS NOTCH3/HTRA1 were found to significantly influence SVD neuroimaging outcomes; however, the mechanisms by which these variants contribute to disease progression or worsen clinical correlates are not yet understood. DISCUSSION Further studies are needed to develop genetic and imaging neurovascular markers to enhance our understanding of their potential contribution to neurodegenerative diseases.