MRI-Visible Perivascular Spaces in the Centrum Semiovale Are Associated with Brain Amyloid Deposition in Patients with Alzheimer Disease?Related Cognitive Impairment

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The association of perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale with amyloid accumulation among patients with Alzheimer disease?related cognitive impairment is unknown. We evaluated this association in patients with Alzheimer disease?related cognitive impairment and ?-amyloid deposition, assessed with [F-18] florbetaben PET/CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging and [F-18] florbetaben PET/CT images of 144 patients with Alzheimer disease?related cognitive impairment were retrospectively evaluated. MR imaging?visible perivascular spaces were rated on a 4-point visual scale: a score of ?3 or <3 indicated a high or low degree of MR imaging?visible perivascular spaces, respectively. Amyloid deposition was evaluated using the brain ?-amyloid plaque load scoring system. RESULTS: Compared with patients negative for ?-amyloid, those positive for it were older and more likely to have lower cognitive function, a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, white matter hyperintensity, the Apolipoprotein E ?4 allele, and a high degree of MR imaging?visible perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale. Multivariable analysis, adjusted for age and Apolipoprotein E status, revealed that a high degree of MR imaging?visible perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale was independently associated with ?-amyloid positivity (odds ratio, 2.307; 95% CI, 1.036?5.136; P = .041). CONCLUSIONS: A high degree of MR imaging?visible perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale independently predicted ?-amyloid positivity in patients with Alzheimer disease?related cognitive impairment. Thus, MR imaging?visible perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale are associated with amyloid pathology of the brain and could be an indirect imaging marker of amyloid burden in patients with Alzheimer disease?related cognitive impairment.

Automated summary

The presence of perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale is independently associated with β-amyloid positivity in patients with Alzheimer's disease-related cognitive impairment, serving as an indirect imaging marker of amyloid pathology in the brain.