Enlarged perivascular space burden predicts declines in cognitive and functional performance
T J Libecap1, Colleen A Pappas2, Christopher E Bauer2
1MD/PhD Program, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|September 19, 2024
Summary
Enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS) in the basal ganglia are linked to cognitive decline in older adults. Higher ePVS burden predicts worsening executive function, memory, and dementia staging over time.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS) are associated with aging and cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD).
- The relationship between ePVS burden and cognitive decline requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between baseline enlarged perivascular space (ePVS) burden and subsequent cognitive decline in older adults.
Main Methods:
- 83 older adults underwent annual cognitive assessments and baseline MRI to quantify basal ganglia and centrum semiovale ePVS.
- Mixed effects models analyzed the relationship between ePVS and cognitive measures, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- High basal ganglia ePVS counts correlated with poorer executive function and episodic memory at baseline.
- Baseline basal ganglia ePVS predicted worse longitudinal Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR®) Dementia Staging Instrument Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) scores.
Conclusions:
- Basal ganglia ePVS burden is a potential imaging biomarker for cSVD-related cognitive and functional decline.
- ePVS may serve as an early indicator of neurodegenerative processes.
Keywords:
Cerebral small vessel diseaseClinical dementia rating (CDR®) dementia staging instrumentEnlarged perivascular spacesMagnetic resonance imagingNeuroimaging biomarkers
