Enlarged perivascular spaces in infant brains linked to autism risk

Infants with enlarged perivascular spaces have a more than two-fold greater chance of developing autism compared with infants with normal perivascular spaces, according to researchers from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill."These results suggest that perivascular spaces could serve as an early marker for autism," said study lead author Dea Garic, PhD, in a statement released January 2 by the university.Every six hours, the brain expels a wave of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that flows through perivascular spaces; this fluid mitigates the buildup of neuroinflammatory proteins, such as amyloid beta. The cleansing process is especially efficient during sleep, and disruption of it can lead to neurological dysfunction, cognitive decline, or developmental delays, Garic's group explained.Garic and colleagues conducted a study in conjunction with the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) (research that investigates brain development, autism, and related developmental disabilities and includes five universities, of which the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is the lead site), assessing infants at increased risk of autism due to having an older sibling with the condition and following them from six- to 24 months of age. The work included 870 MRIs that measured excessive CSF volume and enlarged perivascular spaces. MRI exams were obtained from babies during natural sleep at six, 12, and 24 months, the university said.The group found that 30% of infants who later developed...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Subspecialties Neuroradiology Pediatric Radiology Source Type: news