Glymphatic system dysfunction in cerebral infarction: advances and perspectives based on DTI-derived ALPS measures

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Cerebrovascular Disease

Background:

• The glymphatic pathway is vital for clearing metabolic byproducts from the brain.
• Glymphatic pathway dysfunction is linked to neurological disorders, notably ischemic stroke.
• Early detection and monitoring of glymphatic function are crucial for stroke management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current evidence on DTI-derived ALPS measures for assessing glymphatic dysfunction in ischemic stroke.
• To explore the diagnostic and prognostic potential of ALPS in ischemic stroke patients.
• To evaluate the utility of ALPS in monitoring treatment response in ischemic stroke.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on DTI and ALPS in the context of ischemic stroke.
• Analysis of studies utilizing ALPS imaging to quantify glymphatic pathway function.
• Synthesis of findings related to the correlation between ALPS measures and stroke severity or outcomes.

Main Results:

• DTI-derived ALPS measures show potential in quantifying glymphatic pathway function in ischemic stroke.
• ALPS abnormalities are associated with glymphatic dysfunction in stroke patients.
• Further research is needed to fully establish ALPS as a clinical tool for stroke.

Conclusions:

• DTI-derived ALPS measures represent a promising non-invasive method for evaluating glymphatic pathway function in ischemic stroke.
• ALPS may offer valuable insights for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring of ischemic stroke.
• Standardization and validation studies are essential for the clinical translation of ALPS in stroke care.