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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
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Subcortical White Matter Changes with Normal Aging Detected by Multi-Shot High Resolution Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Sheng Xie1, Zhe Zhang2, Feiyan Chang1
1Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
Plos One
|June 23, 2016
Summary
Aging significantly impacts subcortical white matter, showing declines in integrity and increased radial diffusivity, particularly in the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Aging research
Background:
- Subcortical white matter is crucial for neural connectivity and brain function.
- White matter deterioration is observed with aging, but subcortical regions are understudied due to imaging limitations.
- Understanding age-related subcortical white matter changes is vital for diagnosing neurological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related microstructural changes in subcortical white matter.
- To establish a baseline for pathological disorder diagnosis.
- To utilize advanced diffusion imaging for high-resolution assessment.
Main Methods:
- Employed multi-shot high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
- Utilized self-feeding multiplexed sensitivity-encoding (MUSE) technique.
- Analyzed subcortical white matter in healthy individuals across a wide age range.
Main Results:
- Observed significant decline in fractional anisotropy (FA) with age.
- Detected an increase in radial diffusivity (RD) correlated with aging.
- Noted more pronounced changes in anterior subcortical white matter compared to central white matter.
Conclusions:
- Age-related changes in subcortical white matter suggest mild demyelination and axonal loss.
- These microstructural alterations may contribute to age-related cognitive decline.
- Advanced DTI provides crucial insights into aging brain microstructures.
