Tract-specific white matter degeneration in aging: the Rotterdam Study

Marius de Groot1, M Arfan Ikram2, Saloua Akoudad2

  • 1Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Medical informatics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Summary

Brain white matter microstructure changes with normal aging, potentially indicating neurodegeneration earlier than traditional markers. Cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension and diabetes worsen these age-related microstructural changes.

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