Open AccessA priori collaboration in population imaging: The Uniform Neuro‐Imaging of Virchow‐Robin Spaces Enlargement consortium
Author(s) -
Adams Hieab H.H.,
Hilal Saima,
Schwingenschuh Petra,
Wittfeld Katharina,
Lee Sven J.,
DeCarli Charles,
Vernooij Meike W.,
KatschnigWinter Petra,
Habes Mohamad,
Chen Christopher,
Seshadri Sudha,
Duijn Cornelia M.,
Ikram M. Kamran,
Grabe Hans J.,
Schmidt Reinhold,
Ikram M. Arfan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia: diagnosis, assessment and disease monitoring
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.497
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2352-8729
DOI - 10.1016/j.dadm.2015.10.004
Subject(s) - neuroimaging , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , population , perivascular space , grey matter , dementia , brain morphometry , white matter , pathology , radiology , psychiatry , environmental health , disease
Virchow‐Robin spaces (VRS), or perivascular spaces, are compartments of interstitial fluid enclosing cerebral blood vessels and are potential imaging markers of various underlying brain pathologies. Despite a growing interest in the study of enlarged VRS, the heterogeneity in rating and quantification methods combined with small sample sizes have so far hampered advancement in the field. Methods The Uniform Neuro‐Imaging of Virchow‐Robin Spaces Enlargement (UNIVRSE) consortium was established with primary aims to harmonize rating and analysis ( www.uconsortium.org ). The UNIVRSE consortium brings together 13 (sub)cohorts from five countries, totaling 16,000 subjects and over 25,000 scans. Eight different magnetic resonance imaging protocols were used in the consortium. Results VRS rating was harmonized using a validated protocol that was developed by the two founding members, with high reliability independent of scanner type, rater experience, or concomitant brain pathology. Initial analyses revealed risk factors for enlarged VRS including increased age, sex, high blood pressure, brain infarcts, and white matter lesions, but this varied by brain region. Discussion Early collaborative efforts between cohort studies with respect to data harmonization and joint analyses can advance the field of population (neuro)imaging. The UNIVRSE consortium will focus efforts on other potential correlates of enlarged VRS, including genetics, cognition, stroke, and dementia.