Perivascular space, brain functional connectivity and sleep: a healthy aging population study

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Brain Anatomy
• Aging Research

Background:

• Perivascular spaces (PVS) are integral to brain clearance.
• Sleep influences brain clearance and functional connectivity (FC).
• The relationship between PVS and FC is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between PVS morphology and functional connectivity in aging.
• To explore how PVS relates to cognitive function and sleep quality.

Main Methods:

• Utilized T1-weighted and resting-state fMRI data from 512 healthy aging participants (HCP-Aging).
• Correlated perivascular space volumes (Basal Ganglia-PVS, Centrum Semiovale-PVS) with functional connectivity metrics.
• Incorporated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and NIH cognitive test scores.

Main Results:

• Basal ganglia (BG)-PVS positively correlated with FC in the right anterior medial temporal gyrus (aMTG) and temporal regions.
• Centrum semiovale (CSO)-PVS positively correlated with FC in the left hippocampus and right frontal regions.
• Increased CSO-PVS was linked to higher hippocampal FC and better cognition in early middle-aged individuals.
• Longer time in bed and better sleep quality were associated with larger BG-PVS and higher FC in the right aMTG.

Conclusions:

• PVS morphology may reflect neural connection changes in memory-related brain regions.
• Findings suggest a link between PVS, functional connectivity, sleep, and cognition in aging.
• This study extends previous work by incorporating functional connectivity analyses for novel insights.