Associations among Glymphatic System Impairmentand its related abnormalities in Cerebral small-vessel disease patients

Motivation: The emergence of glymphatic system has provided new insights into the mechanisms of cognitive impairment(CI), and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed diseases impairing cognitive function. Goal(s): We investigated the relationship among the ALPS index, white/gray matter abnormalities and structural network efficiency in CSVD patients. Approach: The diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS)-index and mediation analysis were performed . Results: Significant differences in the DTI-ALPS index were found between the HCs and CSVD_CI groups. Gray matter reserve and white matter integrity may mediates the relationship between glymphatic dysfunction and structural network efficiency in CSVD. Impact: Our results showed distinct relationships between glymphatic dysfunction and its related abnormalities, Gray matter reserve and white matter integrity may mediate the relationship between glymphatic dysfunction and structural network efficiency.