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[Normal aging and imaging correlations]
L Schuster1, M Essig, J Schröder
1Abt E010, Radiologie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Deutschland. l.schuster@dkfz.de
Der Radiologe
|April 5, 2011
Summary
Brain aging involves structural and functional changes, including volume loss and white matter integrity decline. Differentiating normal aging from neurodegenerative diseases is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Context:
- Neuroimaging reveals age-related brain changes, necessitating differentiation between physiological aging and pathological alterations for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases.
- Significant inter-individual variability exists in the rate of cerebral aging.
- Aging is generally associated with cognitive decline and decreased brain volume, particularly in the frontal lobe.
Purpose:
- To elucidate the structural, functional, and biochemical alterations in the aging brain.
- To highlight the importance of distinguishing normal aging from neurodegenerative processes using neuroimaging.
- To detail specific age-related changes observed via various neuroimaging techniques.
Summary:
- Neuroimaging demonstrates age-related brain changes including decreased brain volume, reduced white matter integrity (fractionated anisotropy via diffusion tensor imaging), and increased white matter lesions.
- Cerebral blood flow and blood volume decline with age, alongside iron accumulation in specific brain regions like the globus pallidus and substantia nigra.
- 1H-MR spectroscopy reveals decreased N-acetyl-aspartate, indicating reduced neuronal metabolism in elderly individuals.
Impact:
- Provides a comprehensive overview of neuroimaging findings in brain aging.
- Emphasizes the critical role of neuroimaging in differentiating normal aging from neurodegenerative diseases.
- Contributes to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive decline in aging.
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