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Regional frontal cortical volumes decrease differentially in aging: an MRI study to compare volumetric approaches and
Danielle J Tisserand1, Jens C Pruessner, Ernesto J Sanz Arigita
1Brain & Behaviour Institute, Maastricht University, 6229 GP Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Neuroimage
|October 16, 2002
Summary
Brain aging significantly impacts frontal lobe gray matter volume. Different measurement methods reveal varying patterns of age-related decline in specific frontal subregions, highlighting the importance of manual volumetry for accurate assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
Background:
- Frontal lobes are highly susceptible to aging.
- Previous studies indicate widespread age-related changes in the brain.
- The specific patterns of aging within frontal subregions require detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differential aging patterns across frontal cortex subregions.
- To compare the effectiveness of manual tracing, semiautomatic, and voxel-based morphometry methods in assessing age-related volume changes.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 57 healthy adults (21-81 years).
- Manual tracing of seven frontal subregions per hemisphere.
- Semiautomatic volumetric analysis of four frontal regions.
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis.
Main Results:
- Advancing age correlated with decreased overall frontal gray matter volume.
- Manual tracing showed the most significant age-related volume decreases in lateral and orbital frontal regions.
- Semiautomatic and VBM methods indicated prominent age effects in lateral frontal and cingulate regions.
Conclusions:
- Age-related volume decreases in frontal subregions are method-dependent.
- Manual volumetry remains crucial for precise assessment of regional brain aging.
- Semiautomated and VBM methods offer estimates but do not replace manual analysis for detailed regional evaluation.