Cross-Vendor Test-Retest Validation of Diffusion Tensor Image Analysis along the Perivascular Space (DTI-ALPS) for Evaluating Glymphatic System Function

• Published in: Aging and disease Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 1885 - 1898
• Main Authors: Liu, Xiaodan, Barisano, Giuseppe, Shao, Xingfeng, Jann, Kay, Ringman, John M., Lu, Hanzhang, Arfanakis, Konstantinos, Caprihan, Arvind, DeCarli, Charles, Gold, Brian T., Maillard, Pauline, Satizabal, Claudia L., Fadaee, Elyas, Habes, Mohamad, Stables, Lara, Singh, Herpreet, Fischl, Bruce, Kouwe, Andre van der, Schwab, Kristin, Helmer, Karl G., Greenberg, Steven M., Wang, Danny J.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States JKL International 01.08.2024; JKL International LLC
• Subjects: Adult; Brain; Central nervous system; Consortia; Diffusion Tensor Imaging - methods; Electrical equipment and supplies industry; Evaluation; Female; Glymphatic System - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Magnetic resonance imaging; Male; Medical examination; Medical imaging equipment; Methods; Middle Aged; Neuroimaging; Original; Reproducibility of Results; Software; Ventricles; United States; California
• ISSN: 2152-5250; 2152-5250
• DOI: 10.14336/AD.2023.0321-2

The diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) method was proposed to evaluate glymphatic system (GS) function. However, few studies have validated its reliability and reproducibility. Fifty participants' DTI data from the MarkVCID consortium were included in this study. Two pipelines by using DSI studio and FSL software were developed for data processing and ALPS index calculation. The ALPS index was obtained by the average of bilateral ALPS index and was used for testing the cross-vendor, inter-rater and test-retest reliability by using R studio software. The ALPS index demonstrated favorable inter-scanner reproducibility (ICC=0.77 to 0.95, P< 0.001), inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.96 to 1, P< 0.001) and test-retest repeatability (ICC=0.89 to 0.95, P< 0.001), offering a potential biomarker for in vivo evaluation of GS function.