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Updated: Jul 5, 2025

3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse
Published on: May 19, 2015
Neuronal microstructural changes in the human brain are associated with neurocognitive aging.
Kavita Singh1, Stephanie Barsoum1, Kurt G Schilling2
1Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics Unit, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Diffusion MRI reveals early microstructural brain changes associated with aging and cognitive decline, preceding visible atrophy. These subtle alterations, not macroscopic changes, correlate with neurobehavioral performance in aging adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Aging Research
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Gray matter (GM) alterations are implicated in aging and dementia.
- Macroscopic MRI metrics like cortical thickness may not detect early aging-related changes.
- Diffusion MRI offers potential for sensitive microstructural change detection.
Conclusions:
- Microstructural alterations, including heterogeneity and decreased neurite dispersion, may precede macroscopic gray matter changes.
- These microstructural changes are proposed as early markers of neurocognitive performance.
- Diffusion MRI markers could help identify mechanisms of phenotypic aging and functional decline.
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