We propose a method for quantifying water exchange across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using diffusion-filtered exchange imaging. Careful design of the diffusion filter mitigates confounding effects from in-flowing blood water spins, and use of a two-compartment model aims to avoid known biases in the apparent exchange rate approximation. Using this approach, we optimise an acquisition protocol to provide maximum sensitivity to BBB water exchange and estimate the expected accuracy and precision of the method using simulations. The technique is then validated in a human volunteer.
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