Korean Journal of Radiology

The Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회)
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Neurofluid Dynamics and the Glymphatic System: A Neuroimaging Perspective

  • Toshiaki Taoka (Department of Innovative Biomedical Visualization (iBMV), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine) ;
  • Shinji Naganawa (Department of Radiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2020.01.16
  • Accepted : 2020.04.23
  • Published : 2020.11.01
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Abstract

The glymphatic system hypothesis is a concept describing the clearance of waste products from the brain. The term "glymphatic system" combines the glial and lymphatic systems and is typically described as follows. The perivascular space functions as a conduit that drains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the brain parenchyma. CSF guided to the perivascular space around the arteries enters the interstitium of brain tissue via aquaporin-4 water channels to clear waste proteins into the perivascular space around the veins before being drained from the brain. In this review, we introduce the glymphatic system hypothesis and its association with fluid dynamics, sleep, and disease. We also discuss imaging methods to evaluate the glymphatic system.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Department of Innovative Biomedical Visualization (iBMV), Nagoya University is supported by CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION.

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