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Related Experiment Videos

Mapping cortical change across the human life span.

Elizabeth R Sowell1, Bradley S Peterson, Paul M Thompson

  • 1University of California at Los Angeles, Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. esowell@loni.ucla.edu

Nature Neuroscience
|January 28, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Gray matter density (GMD) significantly declines with age, particularly in frontal and parietal areas. Some regions, like the posterior temporal cortex, show prolonged maturation and different aging patterns.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • Gray matter density (GMD) changes throughout the lifespan, reflecting brain maturation and aging.
  • Understanding regional variations in GMD trajectories is crucial for comprehending cognitive development and decline.
  • Previous studies suggest differential maturation and aging patterns across cortical regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To map age-related changes in gray matter density (GMD) across the entire cortex.
  • To identify specific cortical regions with distinct maturational and aging trajectories.
  • To investigate the relationship between myelination timing and GMD aging patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to acquire brain scans from 176 healthy individuals aged 7 to 87 years.

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  • Cortical matching algorithms were employed to precisely quantify gray matter density (GMD) across the cortex.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to model age-related changes in GMD.

    • Main Results:

    • A significant, nonlinear decline in GMD was observed with age, most pronounced in dorsal frontal and parietal association cortices.
    • The left posterior temporal cortex exhibited an inverted pattern, with GMD gain until age 30, followed by rapid decline.
    • Cortical regions with early myelination (visual, auditory, limbic) showed more linear aging than neocortical areas.

    Conclusions:

    • Brain maturation and aging exhibit considerable regional variability across the human cortex.
    • Posterior temporal cortices, critical for language, demonstrate a protracted maturation course compared to other regions.
    • These findings highlight distinct developmental and aging trajectories influencing cortical function throughout life.