Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of choroid plexus aging

Abstract

Recent studies have pointed out dysfunction and histopathological changes of the choroid plexuses (CPs) with aging. This paper reviews apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the CPs for age-related changes. All the brain MR images of the patients between January 2013 and June 2014 in our Radiology Department were retrospectively investigated. Patients with major cranial abnormalities (brain tumors, hyperacute or acute ischemia, developmental anomalies, hemorrhage, hydrocephaly) were excluded. Diffusion-weighted images were obtained at the parameter values of b = 1000 s/mm in the axial plane. The transverse diameters of the lateral ventricles (LVs) and ADC values of both CPs were measured. Brain MRIs of 202 individuals, 97 men (48%), 105 women (52%), were studied. There were statistically significant positive correlations between the ADC values of CP and patient ages. (Right CP: r = 0.623; p < 0.05. Left CP: r = 0.654; p < 0.05). There were positive correlations between LV diameters and age ( r = 0.624, p < 0.05 for the right LV; r = 0.621, p < 0.05 for the left LV). The ADC values of age groups significantly differed ( p < 0.05); the ≥61-year-old group was significantly higher compared to younger individuals. There is a progressive increase of water diffusivity in the CPs during aging. ADC values should be considered as a neuroimaging quantitative biomarker in normal aging-dementia syndromes.

Characterization of Age-Related Differences in the Human Choroid Plexus Volume, Microstructural Integrity, and Blood Perfusion Using Multiparameter Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…Due to the multifunctional role of the CP, it is difficult to discern the dominant source and purpose of volume enlargement during normative aging, which necessitates further investigations. Our finding of higher MD values with age is consistent with Alicioglu et al (2017). This age-related increase in MD is further supported by our findings that FA significantly decreased with age and that T 1 and T 2 significantly increased with age.…”

“…Interestingly, our MD measure exhibited significant differences between men and women, with men exhibiting higher MD values. Alicioglu et al (2017) observed that women experience a steeper increase in MD after the age of 61 as compared to men. Further, several studies have shown that women exhibit higher CBF as compared to men (Devous et al, 1986;Rodriguez et al, 1988;Podreka et al, 1989;Gur and Gur, 1990;Esposito et al, 1996;Parkes et al, 2004;Liu et al, 2012Liu et al, , 2016Alisch et al, 2021).…”

“…Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, MRI-based microstructural and perfusion differences in the CP with age or sex have only been documented by two studies. In this pioneering work, Alicioglu et al (2017) assessed the mean diffusivity (MD), measured using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) MRI, in human CP across various age ranges and found that the eldest participants exhibit significantly higher MD than the younger participants; this result was interpreted as an increase in diffusion in CP with age indicating a loss of structural integrity resulting in increased leakiness of the epithelial cell junctions. In contrast, Bouzerar et al (2013) reported a decrease in capillary permeability with age.…”

Clinical Imaging of Choroid Plexus in Health and in Brain Disorders: A Mini-Review

“…DTI metrics have been measured in the ChPs of human subjects thus showing the feasibility of this imaging technique to characterize the ChPs despite their small size (Grech-Sollars et al, 2015). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), reflecting the molecular motion of water in the interstitial space, was shown to increase with aging in ChPs (Alicioglu et al, 2017). According to the authors, this effect may be related to increased water diffusion across the epithelium via paracellular spaces, thus signaling BCSFB malfunction.…”

MRI of healthy brain aging: A review

“…The intuitive postulate that cell loss and atrophy results in the ability of water molecules to diffuse more freely and with less directional hindrance in WM can explain these findings. These relationships extend into other specific regions of the brain 182,186–191 and the cervical spinal cord 192 . Although some initial studies indicated that there was no left‐right asymmetry in the fractional anisotropy, later work suggested that some asymmetry may arise during aging 193 …”