Gender and age differences in normal adult human brain: voxel-based morphometric study

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Human Anatomy
• Gerontology

Background:

• Understanding age-related changes in brain structure is crucial for identifying neurological health.
• Previous research suggests potential sex differences in brain aging, but detailed morphometric analyses are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age and gender differences in normal adult human brain structure.
• To utilize voxel-based morphometry to quantify gray matter concentration variations.

Main Methods:

• Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) applied to 3D MRI scans of 227 healthy adults (111 males, 116 females).
• Brain images segmented into gray and white matter using statistical parametric mapping.
• Data normalized to standard brain space and divided into younger and older age groups.

Main Results:

• A significant negative correlation between gray matter concentration and age was observed in both genders.
• Age-related gray matter differences were more pronounced in older age groups.
• Females exhibited greater gray matter retention in the inferior frontal lobes, anterior cingulate gyrus, medial thalamus, and hypothalamus.
• Males showed greater gray matter retention in occipital regions.

Conclusions:

• Brain aging exhibits distinct gender-specific patterns in gray matter distribution.
• Findings align with known biological and hormonal sex differences.
• This research provides valuable insights into normative brain aging across genders.