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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Published on: July 28, 2013

Accelerated changes in white matter microstructure during aging: a longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging study.

Claire E Sexton¹, Kristine B Walhovd², Andreas B Storsve²

¹FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom, claire.sexton@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|November 14, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Human brain white matter shows significant age-related changes, with decline accelerating in the fifth decade. This longitudinal study maps these microstructural changes across the adult lifespan.

Keywords:

DTI aging lifespan longitudinal white matter

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Neuroimaging
Aging Research

Background:

Human brain white matter structure changes with aging, but the precise timescale and spatial distribution are unclear.
Cross-sectional studies suggest accelerated decline in anisotropy and increased diffusivity during senescence, but longitudinal data are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To longitudinally characterize the annual changes in white matter microstructure across the adult lifespan.
To determine the spatial distribution and age-acceleration of these white matter changes.

Main Methods:

Longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) study of 203 healthy adults (20-84 years).
Tract-based spatial statistics used to analyze annual changes in fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and mean diffusivity.

Main Results:

Significant annual decreases in fractional anisotropy and increases in axial, radial, and mean diffusivity were observed.
Spatial analysis revealed inferior-to-superior gradients of vulnerability.
Annual changes accelerated with age, particularly in superior regions, with decline beginning around the fifth decade.

Conclusions:

White matter microstructural changes occur throughout healthy adult aging, with an accelerated decline starting in midlife.
These findings provide essential context for clinical studies and highlight the need to compare aging trajectories in healthy versus at-risk populations.