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This is a Quantitative Study study.

September 17, 2025

Simultaneous Dynamic Sodium (23Na) MRI and EEG Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Velocity in the Human Brain During Sleep

Key Points

Significant differences in CSF flow velocity were observed between gray matter and white matter during different sleep stages.
Using sodium MRI, we measured extracellular volume in 29 healthy brains while monitoring sleep stages with EEG.
The study found no clear trends in CSF flow velocity across the sleep stages examined (W, N2, N3).
These findings may help clarify the role of sleep in the clearance of amyloid-beta in human brains.

Abstract

Motivation: Alzheimer's disease involves neurotoxic amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques. In mice, impaired CSF clearance reduces Aβ removal by 70%. Sleep may boost CSF clearance by expanding extracellular space, potentially affecting CSF flow velocity. Goal(s): The impact of sleep on CSF flow in humans remains unclear due to limited non-invasive imaging. Approach: Using sodium (23Na) MRI, we measured extracellular volume in 29 healthy brains, with sleep stages monitored via MRI-compatible EEG. Results: We observed significant differences in CSF flow velocity between gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) during sleep stages W, N2, and N3, though no clear velocity trends across stages were found. Impact: This work may clarify sleep's role in Aβ clearance in humans.

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Simultaneous Dynamic Sodium (23Na) MRI and EEG Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Velocity in the Human Brain During Sleep

Key Points

Abstract

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