Visualization of brain water dynamics in the occipital lobe using 17O MRI: short- and long-term observations

Motivation: To enable and investigate the observation of in vivo water dynamics and the timescales of water movement through 17O signal detection from enriched H217O using 17O-MRI with a clinical 3T MRI scanner. Goal(s): Assessing the feasibility of 17O-MRI in the human brain using imaging protocols on a clinical 3T MRI scanner. Approach: Female volunteer: Enriched H217O was administered after MRI began. Using 17O-MRI at 3T, both short-term dynamic changes and week-long variations in 17O signal intensity were observed in the occipital lobe. Results: Dynamic and time course changes in 17O signal intensity were observed in the occipital lobe. Impact: This study demonstrates the potential of 17O-MRI to monitor brain water dynamics in vivo, capturing both rapid blood flow changes and longer-term equilibration with interstitial fluids. Findings support 17O-MRI as a valuable tool for understanding brain water distribution over time.