Glymphatic clearance as revealed by diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) is associated with Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and periodic rsEEG alpha rhythms in mild cognitive impairment participants

Lopez, Susanna; Del Percio, Claudio; Lizio, Roberta; Noce, Giuseppe; Carpi, Matteo; Arnaldi, Dario; Famà, Francesco; Pardini, Matteo; Massa, Federico; Marinozzi, Franco; Bini, Fabiano; Treves, Giorgia; Soricelli, Andrea; Salvatore, Marco; Giubilei, Franco; Ziccardi, Laura; GÜNTEKİN, Bahar; YENER, GÖRSEV; Ferri, Raffaele; Lanuzza, Bartolo; Stocchi, Fabrizio; Vacca, Laura; Coletti, Chiara; Infarinato, Francesco; Romano, Paola; Marizzoni, Moira; Frisoni, Giovanni; Barone, Paolo; Cappiello, Arianna; Cuoco, Sofia; Bonanni, Laura; D'Anselmo, Anita; Antonini, Angelo; Fiorenzato, Eleonora; Cauzzo, Simone; Biundo, Roberta; D'Antonio, Fabrizia; De Pandis, Maria; Marziali, Simone; Bruno, Giuseppe; Carducci, Filippo; Babiloni, Claudio

doi:10.1002/dad2.70384

Glymphatic clearance as revealed by diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) is associated with Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and periodic rsEEG alpha rhythms in mild cognitive impairment participants

Lopez S., Del Percio C., Lizio R., Noce G., Carpi M., Arnaldi D., ...More

Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring, vol.18, no.2, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)

Publication Type: Article / Article
Volume: 18 Issue: 2
Publication Date: 2026
Doi Number: 10.1002/dad2.70384
Journal Name: Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring
Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space, mild cognitive impairment, periodic and aperiodic components of resting state encephalogram power spectral density, resting-state electroencephalographic rhythms, spectral parametrization
Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated whether the brain glymphatic drainage function estimated by the diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index relates to white matter (WM) integrity, Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology, resting-state electroencephalogram (rsEEG) alpha rhythms underpinning quiet vigilance, and cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: Clinical, neuroimaging, and rsEEG data were analyzed in matched mild cognitive impairment due to AD (ADMCI) and MCI not due to AD (noADMCI) participants. DTI-ALPS index and aperiodic and periodic components of the rsEEG power spectra were calculated following standard pipelines. RESULTS: Lower DTI-ALPS index was associated with higher AD neuropathology and WM lesions, lower periodic rsEEG alpha rhythms, and worse cognition in patients with ADMCI and noADMCI as a whole population, with the ADMCI (over noADMCI) group showing lower DTI-ALPS index, greater AD neuropathology, and lower periodic rsEEG alpha rhythms. CONCLUSIONS: The DTI-ALPS index may capture glymphatic system impairment linked to AD neuropathology, vigilance dysfunction, and cognitive decline in MCI.