Detection of Age-related Cerebral Microvessel Tortuosity and Its Association with Dilated Perivascular Space Using USPIO-enhanced 7T MRI

Microvessel tortuosity, which is lack detection on clinical imaging, may have direct detrimental effects on capillary flow and nutrient supply which is critical in maintaining neural functions. A high-resolution USPIO-enhanced 7T MRI demonstrated corkscrew appearing medullary arterioles (about 50 µm) in white matter with some enclosed in dilated perivascular space (PVS). The number of tortuous arterioles increased with aging and more tortuous vessels with dilated PVS were found in elderly people (P<0.05). The dynamic interactions between vulnerable tortuous arteries and PVS dilation may be the basis of age-related hypoperfusion, white matter pathology, and waste clearance dysfunction in the elderly.