Mapping the Glymphatic Pathway Using Imaging Advances

Abstract

The glymphatic system is a newly discovered waste-clearing system that is analogous to the lymphatic system in our central nervous system. Furthermore, disruption in the glymphatic system has also been associated with many neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease), traumatic brain injury, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Thus, understanding the function and structure of this system can play a key role in researching the progression and prognoses of these diseases. In this review article, we discuss the current ways to map the glymphatic system and address the advances being made in preclinical mapping. As mentioned, the concept of the glymphatic system is relatively new, and thus, more research needs to be conducted in order to therapeutically intervene via this system.

Association of both Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices with childhood malnutrition in Lao PDR: a cross-sectional study of the 2017 Lao Social Indicator Survey II

“…However, these findings are in line with recent studies from South Africa and Kenya that found that households with access to improved drinking water sources were not having lower rates of wasting or stunting, and similar to findings from Dearden et al for India, Ethiopia and Peru. 23 28 32 Another study in India also found that access to improved drinking water sources was not a predictor of stunting. 17 These studies, however, did not include any water quality analysis.…”

“…A recent systematic review on the impact of improved water sources, sanitation and hygiene practices on growth in low and middle-income countries estimated that adequate access to WASH could decrease the risk of stunting by 13% 21. However, it is plausible that combining interventions to improved WASH and received adequate IYCF could yield a greater positive impact on child growth 19 22 23…”

Association of Sleep Disturbances with the Development of Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review

“…Thakkar, et al examined the current status of advanced imaging for Glymphatic System mapping, pinpointing methods such as MRI with gadolinium contrast (injected by intrathecal or intravenous way), DTI-MRI and 4D-flow MRI, SPECT/CT imaging, Ultrafast MR Encephalography, Fluorescence Microscopy and Macroscopic Imaging [78]. In addition to these techniques, a novel and promising imaging method for Glymphatic clearance evaluation was proposed in Örzsik's work, where the diffusion of water molecules has been analyzed using a Kurtosis model (Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging and Diffusion Kurtosis Tensor Imaging), instead of the Gaussian one [79].…”

Asymmetrical glymphatic dysfunction in patients with Long Covid associated neurocognitive impairment- Correlation with BBB disruption

“…The glymphatic system has been investigated in vivo using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, intrathecal administration of gadolinium and dynamic 11C-Pittsburgh Compound B positron emission tomography techniques. Recently, diffusion MRI has been proposed as a non-invasive method to quantify glymphatic function by calculating the diffusion tensor image metrics along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index (5) . The DTI-ALPS index appears to be correlated with classical detection methods of glymphatic clearance function.…”