Mri-visible perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale are associated with brain amyloid deposition in patients with alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment

Abstract

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 β-amyloid deposition, assessed with [18F] florbetaben PET/CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging and [18F] 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 β -amyloid plaque load scoring system. RESULTS: Compared with patients negative for β -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 β -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 β -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.