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Glymphatic system dysfunction associated with cognitive impairment in chronic tinnitus patients
Yinjuan Du1, Zhichun Huang1, Yuanqing Wu2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|September 23, 2024
Summary
Chronic tinnitus is linked to impaired glymphatic system function, as shown by lower diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index. This glymphatic dysfunction correlates with cognitive deficits in tinnitus patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- The glymphatic system clears waste from the brain and is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Cognitive impairment is a known risk in chronic tinnitus patients, but glymphatic system involvement is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate glymphatic system function in chronic tinnitus patients.
- To evaluate potential glymphatic dysfunction using diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS).
Main Methods:
- Fifty chronic tinnitus patients and 50 healthy controls were recruited.
- Diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) was performed.
- DTI-ALPS indices were compared between groups and correlated with cognitive tests.
Main Results:
- Tinnitus patients showed a significantly lower DTI-ALPS index compared to controls (p < 0.01).
- The Dyyproj index was significantly higher in tinnitus patients (p < 0.01).
- Lower DTI-ALPS correlated with poorer performance on the TMT-B test, and higher Dyyproj correlated with reduced AVLT scores.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence of impaired glymphatic system function in chronic tinnitus using DTI-ALPS.
- Reduced glymphatic activity in tinnitus patients is associated with specific cognitive impairments.
- DTI-ALPS may serve as a valuable imaging biomarker for cognitive deficits in chronic tinnitus.
