Scholarlink

Background <p>The glymphatic system contributes to waste clearance in the brain and helps in maintaining neural health.</p> Objective <p>This study aimed to evaluate the age-related changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of the index of diffusivity along the perivascular space (Along the Perivascular Space (ALPS) index) in infants and children less than 5 years of age.</p> Materials and methods <p>This IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant study utilized diffusion-weighted MRI data from the Baby Connectome Project (BCP), which scanned developing subjects between birth and 5&#xa0;years. We randomly selected subjects older than 2&#xa0;months without significant imaging artifacts. The ALPS index was computed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived diffusivity metrics along projection and association fibers. Multivariable linear regression and ANOVA were used to assess the impact of age, sex, and motion on ALPS index values across hemispheres and age groups.</p> Results <p>We analyzed 60 cases (58% female; mean age=25.4&#xa0;months). ANOVA demonstrated higher right-hemisphere ALPS values in the 12–24-month, 37–48-month, and 49–65-month groups compared to the 2–12-month group (<i>P</i>&lt;0.05), with no significant differences in the left hemisphere or average index, except in the 49–65-month group. Linear regression showed age as a positive predictor of ALPS values (<i>P</i>&lt;0.001). Sex and head motion had no significant effects.</p> Conclusion <p>ALPS index values increase with age during the first 5 years of life, particularly in the right hemisphere, suggesting early developmental asymmetry in perivascular water diffusivity. These findings provide normative reference data and may inform future pediatric neuroimaging studies.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Developmental changes in diffusion MRI metrics along the perivascular space in children during the first 5 years of life

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月20日

查看全文
  • Maria Camila Cortes-Albornoz,
  • Sergio Valencia,
  • Jeremy N. Ford,
  • Natalia Sofia Cortes-Albornoz,
  • Camilo Calixto,
  • Shohei Fujita,
  • Robert Frost,
  • Lilla Zöllei,
  • Camilo Jaimes

摘要

Background

The glymphatic system contributes to waste clearance in the brain and helps in maintaining neural health.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the age-related changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of the index of diffusivity along the perivascular space (Along the Perivascular Space (ALPS) index) in infants and children less than 5 years of age.

Materials and methods

This IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant study utilized diffusion-weighted MRI data from the Baby Connectome Project (BCP), which scanned developing subjects between birth and 5 years. We randomly selected subjects older than 2 months without significant imaging artifacts. The ALPS index was computed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived diffusivity metrics along projection and association fibers. Multivariable linear regression and ANOVA were used to assess the impact of age, sex, and motion on ALPS index values across hemispheres and age groups.

Results

We analyzed 60 cases (58% female; mean age=25.4 months). ANOVA demonstrated higher right-hemisphere ALPS values in the 12–24-month, 37–48-month, and 49–65-month groups compared to the 2–12-month group (P<0.05), with no significant differences in the left hemisphere or average index, except in the 49–65-month group. Linear regression showed age as a positive predictor of ALPS values (P<0.001). Sex and head motion had no significant effects.

Conclusion

ALPS index values increase with age during the first 5 years of life, particularly in the right hemisphere, suggesting early developmental asymmetry in perivascular water diffusivity. These findings provide normative reference data and may inform future pediatric neuroimaging studies.

Graphical Abstract