Assessment of cerebral hemodynamics is a crucial issue in modern medicine, as proper brain perfusion is essential for its function. Even short-term disruptions in blood flow can have serious health implications, such as brain hypoxia. Monitoring cerebral hemodynamics is particularly important in conditions such as stroke and hydrocephalus, as well as following traumatic brain injuries.

There are many methods for assessing cerebral hemodynamics, but most have significant drawbacks, including invasiveness, the use of contrast agents, the inability to provide continuous monitoring, difficulties in applying the technique across all population groups, high costs, or limited availability. Cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), and total hemoglobin concentration (tHb), measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), are free from these limitations. Both methods allow for continuous, non-invasive measurement, can be used on individuals of all ages and health conditions, in any location, and rely on relatively inexpensive equipment. For this reason, it is important to determine whether combining these two methods is sufficient to obtain reliable information about cerebral hemodynamics. This could enable faster and more accurate diagnostics of intracranial pathologies.

The aim of this research project is to investigate the relationship between signals carrying information about blood flow dynamics in large and small cerebral vessels. The proposed study involves using NIRS data alongside CBFV signals. These analyses aim to develop a non-invasive method for assessing cerebral hemodynamics in both healthy and pathological conditions. Specifically, the study will examine the relationship between signal morphology and patient characteristics such as age, sex, and clinical condition, as well as the time delays between signals related to micro- and macrocirculation in the brain, which may also correlate with health status. This approach could provide additional insights into cerebral circulation and potentially aid in the treatment of patients with intracranial pathologies.

The research includes creating a database based on non-invasive cerebral hemodynamic measurements in healthy individuals of different ages, as well as a similar dataset from patients with medical conditions. In line with current trends, the analysis focuses on examining rapid changes in CBFV and tHb, which are related to heart activity, to fully utilize the information carried by these signals.