This study examined overnight changes in diffusivity as a proxy marker for clearance in the glymphatic system, a recently proposed pathway for waste clearance in the brain. In 18 healthy adults, the mean diffusivity increased overnight in multiple brain regions, consistent with the hypothesised expansion of the extracellular space during sleep. In contrast, the diffusivity within CSF decreased overnight, possibly due to temperature effects. The overnight reduction in CSF diffusivity did not correlate with sleep parameters, but the overnight increase in diffusivity in the brain was positively correlated with the percentage of time spent in REM sleep, assessed with EEG.
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