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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Tracking cerebral white matter changes across the lifespan: insights from diffusion tensor imaging studies
Qian Jun Yap1, Irvin Teh, Paolo Fusar-Poli
1School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
Journal of Neural Transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)
|January 19, 2013
Summary
Human brain white matter (WM) matures in a curvilinear pattern, increasing from birth through adolescence, plateauing in mid-adulthood, and declining in old age. This development follows a central-to-peripheral and anterior-to-posterior trajectory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Lifespan Development
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Understanding normal brain white matter (WM) development is essential for diagnosing neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is a key technique for studying WM microstructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize DTI studies on healthy brain WM development across the human lifespan.
- To identify trends in WM maturation and decline.
- To suggest future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of DTI studies on human brain WM development up to October 2012.
- Synthesis of findings on temporal and spatial maturation patterns.
Main Results:
- WM maturation follows a curvilinear trajectory: increasing fractional anisotropy (FA) from newborn to adolescence, plateauing in mid-adulthood, and decreasing in old age.
- WM development proceeds from central to peripheral regions and anterior to posterior.
- Specific tracts like the corpus callosum mature and decline earlier than fronto-temporal tracts; prefrontal WM shows greater age-related decline.
Conclusions:
- Human brain WM development is characterized by distinct temporal and spatial patterns.
- Age-related changes in WM, particularly in prefrontal regions, are significant.
- Longitudinal studies are needed to further elucidate WM changes over time.
