Potential MRI and PET imaging patterns of decreased Alzheimer's-disease pathological protein clearance in patients with cognitive impairment

Motivation: Impaired Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathological protein clearance plays a critical role in the progression of cognitive impairment. Goal(s): To explore whether microscale abnormalities in clearance pathways exhibit macroscopic imaging patterns. Approach: Data collection was performed, and quantitative features were calculated for intergroup differences and correlation analysis. Results: The specific imaging patterns represented by choroid plexus and its associated alterations are associated with increased brain AD pathological protein burden and decreased clearance capacity of the glymphatic system. Impact: This study provides a novel perspective on the decreased clearance capacity of amyloid-beta and tau proteins in cognitively impaired patients' brains. The discovery of distinct imaging patterns aids in accurate diagnosis, treatment, and deepens our understanding of Alzheimer's disease mechanisms.