Identifying the aggravating factors of Alzheimer’s, there was an effect on the cerebrovascular space

[이데일리 이순용 기자] Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital Neurology Professor Jeong Seung-ho, Yonsei University College of Medicine Yongin Hospital Resigning Neurology Professor Jeong Seok-jong and Cleavage Hospital Neurology Professor Lee Pil-hyu and their team found that cognitive function declines rapidly in Alzheimer’s disease when the degree of expansion of the cerebral vascular space is severe

‘Perivascular space dilatation’ is a common finding when taking an MRI of the brain, and the discovery of this finding means that there is a problem with the function of cleaning waste and toxins in the brain.

The research team performed 3T (Tesla: Tesla, magnetic field strength) MRI brain images of 208 Alzheimer’s disease patients with amyloid deposits confirmed by amyloid PET imaging at Resignation Hospital in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease Centrum semiovale) and hippocampus were analyzed to confirm the degree of expansion of the cerebral vascular space.

In addition, in 158 Alzheimer’s disease patients who received the Mini Mental State Examination twice or more at intervals of at least 1 year, the relationship between the expansion of the cerebral vascular space and the rate of decline in the cognitive score was analyzed. .

As a result of the study, although no correlation was found between cerebral vascular space expansion and the degree of amyloid deposition in the three regions, the cognitive score of patients with severe cerebral vascular space expansion in the ovoid center rapidly decreased by 0.58 points every year from compared to those without it

Although it is known to some extent that cerebrovascular space enlargement is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia through previous studies, this study is the first to show that cerebrovascular space enlargement is associated with cognitive decline in patients with confirmed Alzheimer’s disease. turned out to be This suggests that therapies targeting the expansion of the perivascular space in the brain may help prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Jeong Seung-ho (Department of Neurology, Sanggye Paik Hospital) said, “The association between cerebral vascular space expansion and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia has been known to some extent in previous studies, but this study conducted a longitudinal analysis in patients with confirmed Alzheimer’s disease and analyzed the vascular space of the brain “It is significant as it is the first to reveal that expansion is associated with cognitive decline.”

Professor Jeong Seok-jong (Department of Neurology, Yongin Secession Hospital) said, “Enlargement of the space around the cerebral blood vessels is an image finding that can be easily confirmed by taking a brain MRI. “We expect that it will be relatively straightforward to predict cognition-related prognosis when treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease.”

Professor Pil-Hyu Lee (Department of Neurology, Separation Hospital) said, “The expansion of the space around the cerebral blood vessels means that there is a problem with the function of cleaning waste and toxins in the brain. “This suggests that therapies targeting this could help prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease.”

This study was recently published in ‘Neurology’, a leading SCI-level journal in the field of clinical neurology.