Enlarged perivascular spaces, which are commonly seen on brain MRIs in older adults, have important associations with worse cognitive performance, particularly information processing speed and executive function, according to a new study that challenges historical consideration that perivascular spaces are a harmless imaging marker.
Enlarged perivascular spaces are fluid-filled spaces around the cerebral small vessels seen on brain MRIs. In comparison to common markers of small vessel disease, results show a more frequent association between enlarged perivascular spaces and cognition than expected.