Diffusion tensor imaging study of brain precentral gyrus and postcentral gyrus during normal brain aging process

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neuroscience
• Radiology

Background:

• Normal brain aging involves structural changes in white matter tracts.
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is a key technique for assessing white matter integrity.
• The precentral and postcentral gyri are critical for motor and sensory functions, respectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related alterations in white matter tracts within the precentral and postcentral gyri.
• To analyze fractional anisotropy (FA) values to quantify these changes.
• To explore differences across age groups and genders.

Main Methods:

• 120 healthy right-handed subjects underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and DTI scans.
• Subjects were categorized into young (<45 years) and senior (>45 years) groups, by gender.
• Regions of interest (ROIs) were defined in the left/right precentral and postcentral gyri for FA value extraction.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in FA values were observed across age groups, genders, and hemispheres in both gyri (p < .05).
• FA values showed a statistically significant decrease in the precentral and postcentral gyri with increasing age.
• These findings indicate a decline in white matter integrity associated with normal brain aging.

Conclusions:

• Fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the precentral and postcentral gyri are sensitive to aging, gender, and hemispheric differences.
• The observed decrease in FA values over time strongly suggests white matter degeneration during normal brain aging.
• DTI analysis provides valuable insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of brain aging.