Older adults with perivascular spaces exhibit cerebrovascular reactivity deficits
Arunima Kapoor,
Belinda Yew,
Jung Yun Jang,
Shubir Dutt,
Yanrong Li,
John Paul M. Alitin,
Aimee Gaubert,
Jean K. Ho,
Anna E. Blanken,
Isabel J. Sible,
Anisa Marshall,
Xingfeng Shao,
Mara Mather,
Danny J.J. Wang,
Daniel A. Nation
Affiliations
Arunima Kapoor
Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Belinda Yew
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Jung Yun Jang
Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Shubir Dutt
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Yanrong Li
Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
John Paul M. Alitin
Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Aimee Gaubert
Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Jean K. Ho
Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Anna E. Blanken
San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System & Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Isabel J. Sible
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Anisa Marshall
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Xingfeng Shao
Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Mara Mather
Davis School of Gerontology and Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Danny J.J. Wang
Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Daniel A. Nation
Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Corresponding author at: Department of Psychological Science, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorder, University of California Irvine, 4564 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085.
Background: Perivascular spaces on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may indicate poor fluid drainage in the brain and have been associated with numerous neurological conditions. Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is a marker of cerebrovascular function and represents the ability of cerebral blood vessels to regulate cerebral blood flow in response to vasodilatory or vasoconstrictive stimuli. We aimed to examine whether pathological widening of the perivascular space in older adults may be associated with deficits in CVR. Methods: Independently living older adults free of dementia or clinical stroke were recruited from the community and underwent brain MRI. Pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling MRI quantified whole brain cerebral perfusion at rest and during CVR to hypercapnia and hypocapnia induced by visually guided breathing exercises. Perivascular spaces were visually scored using existing scales. Results: Thirty-seven independently living older adults (mean age = 66.3 years; SD = 6.8; age range 55–84 years; 29.7% male) were included in the current analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between burden of perivascular spaces and global CVR to hypercapnia (B = -2.0, 95% CI (-3.6, -0.4), p = .015), adjusting for age and sex. Perivascular spaces were not related to CVR to hypocapnia. Discussion: Perivascular spaces are associated with deficits in cerebrovascular vasodilatory response, but not vasoconstrictive response. Enlargement of perivascular spaces could contribute to, or be influenced by, deficits in CVR. Additional longitudinal studies are warranted to improve our understanding of the relationship between cerebrovascular function and perivascular space enlargement.
