Perivascular spaces (PVS) play a critical role in fluid transfer and waste clearance in the brain. PVS enlargement is associated with advancing age; however, the functional correlates of these changes are not well understood. Using multi-compartment diffusion models, we assessed the diffusion properties within the PVS and the surrounding parenchyma in a healthy aging cohort. We found age was significantly associated with increased perivascular free water content and reduced parenchymal free water content. These findings provide preliminary evidence of age-related changes to perivascular fluid transfer that may be indicative of waste clearance functional alterations.
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