MRI Changes in the Brain Due to Normal Aging
Author Information
Author(s): Draganski B., Ashburner J., Hutton C., Kherif F., Frackowiak R.S.J., Helms G., Weiskopf N.
Primary Institution: LREN, Département des Neurosciences Cliniques, CHUV, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Hypothesis
Normal/healthy ageing induces specific anatomical patterns of changes in grey matter volume, iron accumulation, myelin loss, and water diffusion properties.
Conclusion
The study found that normal aging is associated with specific changes in brain microstructure, including reductions in grey matter volume and alterations in various MRI parameters.
Supporting Evidence
- Age-related reductions in cortical and subcortical grey matter volume were observed.
- Changes in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), magnetization transfer (MT), and R2* were regionally specific.
- The study provides essential baseline data for studying disease against a background of healthy ageing.
Takeaway
As people get older, their brains change in specific ways that can be seen with special MRI scans, showing less grey matter and changes in how water moves in the brain.
Methodology
The study used voxel-based morphometric (VBM) analysis and voxel-based quantification (VBQ) of various MRI parameters in a cohort of healthy adults aged 18-85.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of certain age groups and conditions that could affect brain structure.
Limitations
The study did not include elderly subjects with significant brain atrophy or white matter hyper-intensities, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
26 healthy adults (19 males, age range 18–85 years, mean age 52 years).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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