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Virchow-Robin Spaces: Correlations with Polysomnography-Derived Sleep Parameters
Courtney Berezuk1,2,3, Joel Ramirez1,2,3, Fuqiang Gao1,2,3
1LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI), University of Toronto, Canada.
Sleep
|July 12, 2015
Summary
Enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces (VRS) are linked to poorer sleep quality, including reduced sleep efficiency and increased wakefulness after sleep onset. This suggests sleep may impact perivascular clearance in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Sleep Medicine
- Cerebrovascular Disease
Background:
- Virchow-Robin spaces (VRS) are fluid-filled spaces surrounding penetrating cerebral vessels.
- Enlarged VRS have been observed in various neurological conditions.
- The relationship between VRS volume and sleep quality is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between enlarged Virchow-Robin space volumes (VRS) and objective measures of poor sleep quality.
- To explore the potential role of sleep in perivascular clearance mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
- Assessed 26 patients with cerebrovascular disease using polysomnography and high-resolution MRI.
- Quantified regional VRS and correlated with sleep parameters, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- Sleep efficiency was negatively correlated with total VRS and basal ganglia VRS.
- Wake after sleep onset was positively correlated with basal ganglia VRS.
- Basal ganglia VRS were negatively correlated with N3 sleep duration.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings suggest a link between enlarged VRS and impaired sleep quality.
- Sleep may influence perivascular clearance in ischemic brain disease.
- VRS could be a potential imaging biomarker for nocturnal metabolite clearance.
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