Neurology Update by Scientific Panel Neuroimaging
In a recent study by Carotenuto et al., the authors assessed glymphatic system function in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its association with clinical disability and tissue damage. Authors found that the glymphatic system is impaired in MS, especially in progressive forms of the disease, and showed that glymphatic system abnormalities were associated with more severe brain structural damage, in terms of focal lesions, microstructural abnormalities and volume loss, and clinical disability.
Key Points:
- Brain tissue is cleaned through a recently discovered glymphatic system which is impaired in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- DTI-ALPS index is a diffusion-imaging based indirect measure of glymphatic function
- Multiple sclerosis patients show a lower DTI-ALPS index compared with healthy controls with progressive patients showing the lowest values.
- Lower DTI-ALPS index correlated with more severe clinical disability and tissue damage.
- Glymphatic system impairment may contribute to multiple sclerosis pathology and may underpin disability accrual.
Read more here
