Methods for evaluating brain-wide paravascular pathway for waste clearance function and methods for treating neurodegenerative disorders based thereon

摘要

Methods are provided for measuring glio-vascular pathway (“glymphatic system”) function in the brain of a mammal which include performing imaging of the brain and measuring cerebrospinal fluid-interstitial fluid (CSF-ISF) exchange in the brain. The methods can be used to track the exchange between CSF and ISF compartments. An imaging agent is optionally administered intrathecally. The imaging agent can be a negative or positive (paramagnetic) contrast agent and dynamic or contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain can be performed. The imaging agent can be a positron-emitting radionuclide tracer and positron emission tomography (PET) can be performed. Methods for treating diseases or disorders of the mammalian brain are also provided, in which the methods increase or decrease glymphatic clearance.