Evaluation and interpretation of DTI-ALPS, a proposed surrogate marker for glymphatic clearance, in a large population-based sample.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The diffusion tensor imaging along perivascular spaces index (DTI-ALPS), which measures diffusivity in the perivascular spaces along the medullary veins, has gained popularity and controversy as a surrogate marker of glymphatic clearance. The goal of this work is to automatically estimate DTI-ALPS in a large population-based sample, evaluate the correlates of the signal observed in the context of aging and dementia biomarkers, and evaluate its clinical usefulness.

Methods

We identified 2715 participants aged 30 + years in the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging with diffusion MRI. We calculated DTI-ALPS through a modified pipeline of previously published methods. We evaluated DTI-ALPS using different protocols and scanners and reported ICC for agreement. W

SUBMITTER: Satpathi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12362905 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature