International Cerebrovascular Research meeting CARNet

After a warm welcome in Leicester UK, with coffee and pastries and an interesting invited lecture on neurovascular coupling in ageing and dementia, Ralf had the honour of kicking off a great series of oral presentations scheduled for this three-day conference. He presented findings from a unique follow-up study that aimed to explore changes in cerebrovascular perfusion and autoregulation across a decade of ageing in healthy older adults, and how these changes relate to the development of subjective memory complaints. To address these objectives, Ralf took the opportunity in the beginning of his PhD track to repeat transcranial Doppler measurements in older adults (80 years old) who underwent the same measurements 10 years ago (led by our former colleague dr. Madelijn Oudegeest-Sander). The presentation provoked an interesting round of discussion.

Each session of lectures and oral presentations had its own emphasis: from clinical research/implications to hardcore physiology, and also methodology and signal modelling regarding cerebrovascular measurements (mostly with transcranial Doppler ultrasound). During the coffee and lunch breaks in between the sessions, there was room for poster presentations, networking and discussion. Given the specific research field, the annual CARNet-meeting provides an excellent opportunity to connect with and learn from a relatively small group of cerebrovascular research colleagues and leaders from all over the world. Everyone was very kind and open for discussion, creating a good and low-threshold atmosphere. The social evening events were also fun, that were spent on an event dinner and drinks in typical English pubs. Unfortunately, Leicester is not the most beautiful city.

Better luck for those who will be attending the next CARNet meeting, that takes place in the city of Taipei, Taiwan!