Microstructural Changes of the Human Brain from Early to Mid-Adulthood

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Limited knowledge exists on human brain microstructural changes between early and mid-adulthood.
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) provides insights into white matter integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related microstructural brain changes from early to mid-adulthood (18-55 years).
• To determine the specificity of these changes for age estimation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of DTI data from 111 adults aged 18-55 years.
• Correlation analysis between age and DTI metrics (FA, MD, AD, RD) globally and regionally.
• Brain age estimation using elastic net multivariate pattern analysis.

Main Results:

• Significant negative correlations observed between age and FA, indicating decreased white matter integrity with age.
• FA decreases were driven by increases in radial diffusivity (RD) and decreases in axial diffusivity (AD).
• High accuracy in estimating chronological age from DTI metrics (R=0.62-0.69), demonstrating specificity of microstructural changes.

Conclusions:

• Statistically significant microstructural brain changes occur from early to mid-adulthood.
• These changes, particularly FA decreases, are specific enough to decode individual ages.
• Highlights the importance of accounting for age effects in neuroscience research.