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Related Experiment Videos

Cerebral structure on MRI, Part I: Localization of age-related changes.

T L Jernigan1, S L Archibald, M T Berhow

  • 1VA Medical Center, San Diego, CA.

Biological Psychiatry
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Brain structure shrinks with age, particularly the caudate nucleus, diencephalon, and cortical grey matter. White matter also shows significant age-related degeneration on MRI scans.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Radiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Previous research indicated age-related brain morphology changes on MRI.
  • This study expands on prior findings by quantifying specific grey matter structures and white matter degeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate age-related volumetric changes in individual cerebral grey matter structures.
  • To assess white matter degeneration using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
  • To identify specific brain regions most affected by aging.

Main Methods:

  • Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used to measure volumes of the caudate nucleus, lenticular nucleus, and diencephalic structures.
  • Grey matter volumes were estimated in eight separate cortical regions.
  • White matter changes were assessed using T2 relaxation times.

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Main Results:

  • Significant decreases in the volume of the caudate nucleus, anterior diencephalic structures, and most cortical grey matter regions were observed between ages 30 and 79.
  • The thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex volumes may remain unchanged with age.
  • Association cortices and mesial temporal lobe structures showed greater age-related changes.
  • Lengthened T2 values on MR images indicated dramatic age-related white matter degeneration.

Conclusions:

  • Aging is associated with significant volumetric reductions in several key brain structures, including the caudate nucleus, diencephalon, and cortical regions.
  • Specific areas like the thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex may be relatively preserved.
  • White matter integrity is notably compromised in older individuals, as evidenced by MR imaging findings.