Assessment of Maturational Changes in White Matter Anisotropy and Volume in Children: A DTI Study

Anisotropy is a good indicator of white matter fascicle macrostructure and organization but the interpretation of its changes with age remains difficult. The increase of WM fascicle fractional anisotropy with time and its relationship with WM fascicle volume have never been examined during childhood. We studied the maturation of associative WM fascicles during childhood using MR imaging-based DTI. We explored whether the fractional anisotropy increase of the main WM fascicles persists beyond the period of brain growth and is related to WM fascicle volume increase.

In a series of 25 healthy children, the fractional anisotropy and volume of 15 associative WM fascicles were calculated. Several regression linear mixed models were used to study maturation parameters (fractional anisotropy, volume, and total telencephalon volume) considered as dependent variables, while age and sex were independent variables (the variable identifying the different WM fascicles was considered as a repeated measure).

In children older than 8 years of age, WM fascicle fractional anisotropy increased with age (P value = .045) but not its volume (P value = .7) or the telencephalon volume (P value = .16). The time course of WM fascicle fractional anisotropy and volume suggested that each WM fascicle might follow a specific pattern of maturation.

The fractional anisotropy increase of several WM fascicles after 8 years of age may not result from an increase in WM fascicle volume. It might be the consequence of other developmental processes such as myelination.