Multivariate morphometry statistics reveal the morphological change pattern of hippocampus during normal aging.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Normal aging is associated with structural and functional decline in the hippocampus.
• The precise pattern of age-related hippocampal alterations remains unclear.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for comprehending the aging process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pattern of hippocampal structural changes in normal aging.
• To identify specific regions of the hippocampus most affected by aging.
• To evaluate the sensitivity of Multivariate Morphometry Statistics (MMS) in detecting age-related hippocampal changes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 451 T1 MRI scans from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort (ages 50-90).
• Subjects were grouped into four age bands (50-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90).
• Extracted Multivariate Morphometry Statistics (MMS) of the hippocampus via surface reconstruction, mesh generation, and registration; statistically analyzed differences between the youngest and older groups.

Main Results:

• The earliest left hippocampal deformation was observed in the frontal subiculum and dorsal CA1 (tail), expanding with age.
• Right hippocampal deformation primarily occurred in the dorsal CA1, spreading to posterior CA2-3, and appeared later than left-sided changes.
• Multivariate Morphometry Statistics (MMS) proved sensitive in detecting age-related changes in the hippocampus.

Conclusions:

• The hippocampus is a vulnerable structure during normal aging.
• Specific patterns of deformation emerge in the hippocampus with advancing age, differing between hemispheres.
• MMS are effective metrics for quantifying age-related structural alterations in the hippocampus.