This Monday, November 17th, Josep Munuera will give the CNIC Seminar entitled “Beyond arteries: the venous dimension of the brain in development, aging, and cerebrovascular disease through magnetic resonance imaging” at 12 pm in the Auditorium.
Cerebral veins and dural venous sinuses play a dynamic and often underappreciated role in brain development, function, and disease. This lecture will review how venous anatomy and physiology have adapted across primate and hominin evolution, and how they transform from the fetal period through childhood, adulthood, and advanced age. We will discuss how age-dependent changes in venous drainage and compliance intersect with key neurological and neurovascular disorders, including intracranial hypertension, venous thrombosis, white-matter disease, and neurodegeneration. A special focus will be placed on the ageing brain, where impaired venous outflow and altered pulsatility may contribute to blood–brain barrier dysfunction, impaired waste clearance, and cognitive decline. The talk will highlight the expanding role of medical imaging, with emphasis on advanced MRI techniques such as susceptibility-based venography, high-resolution vessel wall imaging, and quantitative flow assessment. Particular attention will be given to how these tools can probe venous–glymphatic coupling and reveal subtle alterations in venous behaviour across the lifespan.
We hope you could attend the seminar in person this morning.
Best regards.