Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41408505›Full record

ArticleBMC neurology2025

Glymphatic system dysfunction mediates the relationship between deep medullary vein alterations and cognitive impairment in cerebral small vessel disease.

Wenli Lu, Shengnan Zhu, Ran Chen, Li Yang, Jing Qiang, Liya Ji, Cheng Li, Dan Zhou

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wenli LuDepartment of Radiology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jianye District, No. 71 Hexi Street, Nanjing, 210019, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-4418-4418
Shengnan ZhuDepartment of Radiology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jianye District, No. 71 Hexi Street, Nanjing, 210019, China.
Ran ChenDepartment of Radiology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jianye District, No. 71 Hexi Street, Nanjing, 210019, China.
Li YangDepartment of Radiology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jianye District, No. 71 Hexi Street, Nanjing, 210019, China.
Jing QiangDepartment of Radiology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jianye District, No. 71 Hexi Street, Nanjing, 210019, China.
Liya JiDepartment of Radiology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jianye District, No. 71 Hexi Street, Nanjing, 210019, China.
Cheng Li *Department of Radiology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jianye District, No. 71 Hexi Street, Nanjing, 210019, China. yzlicheng@vip.sina.com.
Dan Zhou *Department of Radiology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jianye District, No. 71 Hexi Street, Nanjing, 210019, China. daniezhou@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8961-5276

Funding

Nanjing medical science and technology development fund ZKX24064
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study investigates how structural changes in deep medullary vein (DMV), glymphatic system dysfunction, and cognitive decline are interconnected in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), with a focus on whether impaired glymphatic function acts as a mediator in this relationship.

methodsClinical and MRI data from 93 CSVD patients were retrospectively analyzed. DMV burden was assessed using a semiquantitative scoring system (0-3 points per region), based on the visibility of DMVs in six anatomical regions on susceptibility-weighted imaging, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 18. Glymphatic system function was evaluated using the diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index. Global cognitive function was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Spearman correlation analysis, general linear modeling, and mediation analysis were conducted to examine the relationships among the variables.

resultsDMV scores(which higher scores indicate poorer venous visibility)were significantly negatively correlated with MoCA scores (r = -0.48, p< 0.001) and with the DTI-ALPS index (r = -0.28, p < 0.001), while the DTI-ALPS index was positively correlated with MoCA scores (r= 0.35, p < 0.05). Mediation analysis indicated that the DTI-ALPS index partially mediated the effect of DMV burden on cognitive performance, accounting for 14.08% of the total effect.

conclusionsThis study suggests that DMV structural abnormalities may exacerbate CSVD-related cognitive impairment by disrupting glymphatic function. DMV scoring may serve as a potential imaging biomarker, providing a foundation for early identification and intervention.

Indexed as

Cerebral Small Vessel DiseasesCerebral VeinsCognitive DysfunctionGlymphatic SystemMedulla OblongataAgedDiffusion Tensor ImagingFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesCerebral small vessel diseaseCognitive declineDeep medullary veinDiffusion tensor imaging

Identifiers

PMID41408505
PMCPMC12822137

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.