PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - W. Chen
AU  - X. Song
AU  - Y. Zhang
AU  - for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
TI  - Assessment of the Virchow-Robin Spaces in Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Normal Aging, Using High-Field MR Imaging
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A2541
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 1490--1495
VI  - 32
IP  - 8
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/32/8/1490.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/32/8/1490.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2011 Sep 01; 32
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: VRSs are the perivascular spaces surrounding the deep perforating arteries in the brain. Although VRS variations with age and disease pathologies have been reported previously, the radiologic characteristics of the VRS in relation to AD are poorly understood. This study investigated the prevalence, spatial distribution, and severity of the VRS in AD, MCI, and older adults who were CN. It also investigated the relationship of the VRS to white matter changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Structural MR imaging data were acquired from 158 participants (AD = 37, MCI = 71, CN = 50, mean age = 74.97 ± 7.20 years) who had undergone T1WI at 3T. The severity of VRS in the white matter, basal ganglia, hippocampus, and brain stem structures was evaluated by using a semiquantitative scale, adapted from existing rating scales. A VRS total score summarizing the subscales was calculated to assess the whole-brain VRSs. RESULTS: VRSs were observed in multiple brain regions of all participants, typically presented as <2-mm well-margined symmetric round-, oval- and linear-shaped hypointensities on T1WI. The VRS total score increased with leukoaraiosis, atrophy, and advanced age (P < .001). Individuals with AD and MCI showed greater levels of VRS than control subjects. The VRS total score discriminated individuals with AD and those who were CN with an accuracy of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.69–0.89). CONCLUSIONS: VRSs are common in older adults and are more severe in AD and MCI than in CN. Whether increased VRSs can be reliably used to aid in AD diagnosis warrants further investigation. ADAlzheimer diseaseADNIAlzheimer Disease Neuroimaging InitiativeANOVAanalysis of varianceAUCarea under the curveBGbasal ganglia regionBSbrain stemCDRClinical Dementia RatingCIconfidence intervalCNcognitively normalCScentrum semiovaleFLfrontal lobeHPhippocampal areaICCinterclass correlationMCImild cognitive impairmentMMSEMini-Mental State ExaminationOLoccipital lobePLparietal lobeROCreceiver operating characteristic curve analysisT1WIT1-weighted imagingT2WIT2-weighted imagingTLtemporal lobeVRSVirchow-Robin space