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Relationship between aging and T1 relaxation time in deep gray matter: A voxel-based analysis
Gosuke Okubo1, Tomohisa Okada1, Akira Yamamoto1
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging : JMRI
|February 3, 2017
Summary
Age-related T1 relaxation times in deep gray matter vary by brain region. Some areas show decreases, while others, like the thalamus, show increases with age.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- T1 relaxation time is a fundamental MRI parameter sensitive to tissue composition.
- Understanding age-related changes in brain tissue properties is crucial for diagnosing neurological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in T1 relaxation time within deep gray matter structures.
- Utilize magnetization-prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient echoes (MP2RAGE) for precise T1 quantification.
Main Methods:
- 70 healthy volunteers (20-76 years) underwent 3T MRI using an MP2RAGE sequence.
- Voxel-based analysis and region of interest (ROI) analyses were performed on normalized T1 maps.
- Statistical regression models (linear and quadratic) assessed T1 changes with age.
Main Results:
- Voxel-based analysis revealed decreased T1 in the putamen, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala with aging.
- T1 values increased in the thalamus and white matter.
- ROI analysis confirmed linear T1 decrease in the nucleus accumbens and quadratic changes in the thalamus, substantia nigra, and globus pallidus.
Conclusions:
- Age-related T1 relaxation time alterations in deep gray matter are region-specific.
- These findings highlight the heterogeneous impact of aging on brain tissue characteristics.
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