Sex differences in the corpus callosum with aging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• The corpus callosum (CC) is crucial for interhemispheric communication.
• Understanding sex differences in brain aging is vital for neurological health.
• Age-related changes in brain structure can impact cognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex differences in the area and age-related atrophy of the corpus callosum (CC) in healthy elderly individuals.
• To explore the relationship between CC size, its subregions, and cognitive performance.
• To compare age-related changes in the CC with noncortical control structures (cerebellum and pons).

Main Methods:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess brain structure in 76 healthy elderly subjects.
• The corpus callosum (CC) and its subregions were analyzed for area and atrophy.
• Cerebellum and pons were used as noncortical control structures to evaluate age-related changes.

Main Results:

• Women exhibited a slightly larger posterior CC sector compared to men.
• Age-related atrophy was observed in the anterior and middle CC sectors in women, but not in men or in the posterior CC sector.
• Neither the cerebellum nor the pons showed sex differences in size or age-related atrophy.
• CC area correlated with visual memory in women, but no significant cognitive relationships were found in men.

Conclusions:

• Selective age-related atrophy of the corpus callosum (CC) differs between men and women in late life.
• These findings suggest distinct patterns of brain aging in men and women.
• The observed sex differences in CC atrophy may have implications for cognitive function, particularly visual memory in women.