A correlational study between microstructural, macrostructural and functional age-related changes in the human visual
Sahar Rahimi Malakshan1, Farveh Daneshvarfard1,2, Hamid Abrishami Moghaddam1
1Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Plos One
|January 20, 2023
Summary
This study reveals that while age significantly impacts visual evoked potential (VEP) latency, brain structural changes do not independently predict these functional alterations in adults. Age remains the primary driver of VEP latency changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Brain Aging
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Age-related brain changes affect both structure and function, impacting development and pathology.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for monitoring brain health across the lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between age-related micro/macrostructural brain changes and functional responses to visual stimuli.
- To correlate visual evoked potential (VEP) latency with brain structural indices in adults.
- To explore correlations among micro/macrostructural features themselves.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), in adults aged 20-78.
- Extracted macrostructural parameters (cortical thickness, surface area, folding, curvature, gray matter volume) and microstructural parameters (MD, RD, AD).
- Analyzed VEP features (C1, P1, N1 peak latency and amplitude) and their correlation with age and structural data in visual cortex regions (V1, V2).
Main Results:
- All measured structural features (macro and micro) in V1 and V2 significantly correlated with age.
- Negative correlations were observed between structural features from T1-weighted images and DWI.
- Significant correlations found between mean C1 latency and gray matter volume in V1 and V2.
Conclusions:
- Age is a significant factor in both structural and functional brain changes, particularly in the visual cortex.
- While structural indices correlate with age and VEP latency, age itself is the stronger predictor of VEP latency changes.
- The study highlights the complex interplay between brain structure, function, and aging.
