A preliminary study of MRI-Derived Glymphatic System indices in early normal elderly people

Motivation: Glymphatic system(GS), as a brain waste clearance system, has been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases . However, evidence is limited in a normal ageing population. Indicators based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the most promising methods for assessing GS impairments indirectly. Goal(s): To investigate whether GS function changes during aging. Approach: Four MRI-derived GS indices were combined to quantitative volume fraction of perivascular spaces(PVS), diffusivity along perivascular spaces(ALPS), free water in white matter skeleton(FW in WMs) and choroid plexus volume(Chp). Results: Our preliminary findings suggested that MRI-derived GS indices change with age. Impact: These findings may provide new evidence for the influence of GS function on aging and many other neurodegenerative disease in clinical practice.