Three-dimensional flow velocity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in human brain during sleep via simultaneous EEG and dynamic sodium MRI

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow plays a key role in clearance of waste proteins from the brain. Current proton (1H) MRI is limited to measurement of CSF flow in specific regions such as the aqueduct, due to the lack of capability distinguishing CSF from water. Sodium (23Na) MRI is uniquely sensitive to CSF, instead of water, and has the potential to measure CSF flow in entire brain. Here, we use a recently-developed dynamic sodium MRI to measure CSF flow velocity in the brain and to understand how it changes with sleep state monitored by MRI-compatible EEG.