[Age-related changes in the intervertebral disks based on magnetic resonance tomographic data]

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Orthopedics
• Gerontology

Background:

• Vertebral column aging involves degenerative changes in intervertebral discs.
• Assessing disc dehydration is crucial for understanding spinal health and aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related changes in the lumbar vertebral column using MRI.
• To evaluate the intensity of magnetic resonance (MR) signals from vertebral discs and adjacent bodies.
• To establish a method for assessing early stages of disc dehydration and age norms.

Main Methods:

• Studied the lumbar region of the vertebral column in individuals of different ages.
• Utilized magnetic resonance tomography (MRF) for imaging.
• Evaluated MR signal intensity visually and quantitatively.
• Analyzed signal changes related to disc dehydration and aging.

Main Results:

• Decreased MR signal intensity correlates with disc dehydration, a characteristic of aging.
• Juvenile discs show maximal MR signal intensity from the nucleus pulposus, exceeding adjacent discs.
• Early dehydration stages exhibit "doubling" of MR signals or decreased intensity to levels of adjacent discs.

Conclusions:

• The proposed MR method effectively detects early disc dehydration.
• This technique allows for the determination of age-specific norms for intervertebral disc health.
• Quantitative MR signal analysis provides valuable insights into spinal aging processes.