Age-related Changes of White Matter in the Elderly Population Measured by Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Abstract Time-based prospective memory (TBPM) allows us to remember to perform intended actions at a specific time in the future. TBPM is sensitive to the effects of age, but the neural substrates of this decline are still poorly understood. The aim of the present study was thus to better characterize the brain substrates of the age-related decline in TBPM, focusing on macrostructural gray matter and microstructural white matter integrity. We administered a TBPM task to 22 healthy young (26 ± 5.2 years) and 23 older (63 ± 5.9 years) participants, who also underwent volumetric magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging scans. Neuroimaging analyses revealed lower gray matter volumes in several brain areas in older participants, but these did not correlate with TBPM performance. By contrast, an age-related decline in fractional anisotropy in several white-matter tracts connecting frontal and occipital regions did correlate with TBPM performance, whereas there was no significant correlation in healthy young subjects. According to the literature, these tracts are connected to the anterior prefrontal cortex and the thalamus, 2 structures involved in TBPM. These results confirm the view that a disconnection process occurs in aging and contributes to cognitive decline.

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Gender and Age-Related Changes of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Parameters of Cervical Spinal Cord

The Spine Journal ◽

10.1016/j.spinee.2015.07.024 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. S91-S92

Author(s):

Xiang Li ◽

Tin Yan Chan ◽

Kin Cheung Mak ◽

Jason P. Cheung ◽

Keith D. Luk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Imaging Parameters ◽

Age Related ◽

Gender And Age ◽

Age Related Changes

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The Limbic Degradation of Aging Brain: A Quantitative Analysis with Diffusion Tensor Imaging

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2014/196513 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hediye Pınar Gunbey ◽

Karabekir Ercan ◽

Ayşe Serap Fındıkoglu ◽

H. Taner Bulut ◽

Mustafa Karaoglanoglu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

Limbic System ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Normal Population ◽

Parahippocampal Gyrus ◽

Aging Brain ◽

Emotional Life ◽

Age Related ◽

Left Hippocampus ◽

Age Related Changes

Introduction. The limbic system primarily responsible for our emotional life and memories is known to undergo degradation with aging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is capable of revealing the white matter integrity. The aim of this study is to investigate age-related changes of quantitative diffusivity parameters and fiber characteristics on limbic system in healthy volunteers.Methods. 31 healthy subjects aged 25–70 years were examined at 1,5 TMR. Quantitative fiber tracking was performed of fornix, cingulum, and the parahippocampal gyrus. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements of bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, fornix, cingulum, and parahippocampal gyrus were obtained as related components.Results. The FA values of left hippocampus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, and fornix showed negative correlations with aging. The ADC values of right amygdala and left cingulum interestingly showed negative relation and the left hippocampus represented positive relation with age. The cingulum showed no correlation. The significant relative changes per decade of age were found in the cingulum and parahippocampal gyrus FA measurements.Conclusion. Our approach shows that aging affects hippocampus, parahippocampus, and fornix significantly but not cingulum. These findings reveal age-related changes of limbic system in normal population that may contribute to future DTI studies.

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