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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
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Using CForest to Analyze Diffusion Tensor Imaging Data: A Study of White Matter Integrity in Healthy Aging.
Sean R McWhinney1, Antoine Tremblay1,2,3, Thérèse M Chevalier4
11 Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University , Halifax, Canada .
Brain Connectivity
|October 28, 2016
Summary
Healthy aging shows reduced white matter integrity, impacting cognition. New analysis reveals age-related declines in fractional anisotropy (FA) begin around age 30, varying by brain region and handedness.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Healthy aging is linked to decreased white matter integrity, potentially causing cognitive decline.
- Previous studies indicate a global reduction in white matter integrity with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related white matter integrity reduction across a wide lifespan.
- To characterize the progression of decline in detail using advanced analytical methods.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used on 45 healthy individuals (19-67 years).
- Conditional inference random forest modeling (CForest) analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) in major brain tracts.
- Probabilistic tractography estimated FA for detailed analysis.
Main Results:
- A nonlinear decrease in FA was observed with age, starting around 30 years.
- The rate of decline varied by brain tract, with anterior tracts showing later but steeper declines.
- Some tracts exhibited a transient increase in FA before declining.
- Strongly right-handed individuals showed preserved FA longer than others.
Conclusions:
- Novel nonparametric analysis confirms FA reduction in healthy aging.
- New insights into the onset and progression of white matter decline were provided.
- Evidence suggests white matter integrity may increase into adulthood before declining.
