Identifying delay in glymphatic clearance of labeled protons post-acute head trauma utilizing 3D ASL MRI (arterial spin labeling): a pilot study

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-03, Vol.14 (1), p.6188-6188, Article 6188
• Main Authors: Joseph, Charles R., Lim, Jubin Kang, Grohol, Bryce N., Zivcevska, Marija, Lencke, Joshua, Rich, Ethan Dean, Arrasmith, Connor James, Dorman, Ian Shepherd, Clark, Bradley Waman, Love, Kim, Ferry, Ben, Rolfs, Mark E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/378; 692/308; 692/53; 692/617; Athletes; Biomarkers; Blood-brain barrier; Cognitive ability; Concussion; Humanities and Social Sciences; Magnetic resonance imaging; multidisciplinary; Pilot projects; Protons; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Spin labeling; Traumatic brain injury; Vestibular system
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56236-6

This study correlated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) cognitive changes with ASL-MRI glymphatic clearance rates (GCRs) and recovery with GCR improvement. mTBI disrupts the blood brain barrier (BBB), reducing capillary mean transit time and GCRs. mTBI is clinically diagnosed utilizing history/examination findings with no physiologic biomarkers. 3D TGSE (turbo-gradient spin-echo) pulsed arterial spin-labeling 3T MRI with 7 long inversion times (TIs) assessed the signal clearance of labeled protons 2800–4000 ms postlabeling in bifrontal, bitemporal, and biparietal regions within 7 days of mTBI and once clinically cleared to resume activities. The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool Version 5 (SKAT5) and Brief Oculomotor/Vestibular Assessment evaluated injured athletes’ cognitive function prior to MRIs. The pilot study demonstrated significant GCRs improvement (95% CI − 0.06 to − 0.03 acute phase; to CI—recovery CI 0.0772 to − 0.0497; P