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Nerve cross-sectional area from childhood to old age: A high-resolution nerve ultrasound study
Jörg Philipps1, Robin Denz2, Melis Tahmaz1
1Department of Neurology and Neurogeriatrics, Johannes Wesling Klinikum Minden, Ruhr-University Bochum, Minden, Germany.
Background And Purpose:
Nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) is not constant over the human lifespan. The relationship between an increasing CSA and age has been described as a linear positive correlation, but few studies have found a linear decrease in nerve size with older age. The aim of the present study was to analyze the development of nerve CSA in a healthy population from early childhood to old age using high-resolution ultrasound.
Methods:
The median, ulnar, radial and sural nerves were examined bilaterally at 18 nerve sites in 110 healthy children, adolescents and adults aged between 2 and 98 years. The CSA of every nerve site was evaluated separately and in different age groups. The correlation of CSA with age, height and weight was analyzed in a linear, logarithmic and quadratic model and correlation coefficients were compared in a goodness-of-fit analysis. Models were then adjusted for weight and height.
Results:
Linear CSA-age correlations showed the lowest correlation coefficients for all nerve sites. An inverted parabolic curve suggesting a quadratic correlation of CSA and age was the best-fitting model. Weight and height had a higher predictive value than age in adjusted models.
Conclusions:
There is an increase in nerve size during childhood and adolescence and a trend towards a decrease in old age, suggesting an inverted parabolic curve partly explained by age-related changes in weight and height. Enlarged nerves in elderly individuals should not be attributed to age alone.
