Diffusion tensor imaging and tractography of the white matter in normal aging: The rate-of-change differs between segments within tracts

J Mårtensson, J Lätt, F Åhs, M Fredrikson, H Söderlund, H B Schiöth, J. Kok, B Kremer, Danielle van Westen, E-M Larsson, M Nilsson

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    19 Citations (Scopus)
    143 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Knowledge concerning the normal aging of cerebral white matter will improve our understanding of abnormal changes in neurodegenerative diseases. The microstructural basis of white matter maturation and aging can be investigated using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Generally, diffusion anisotropy increases during childhood and adolescence followed by a decline in middle age. However, this process is subject to spatial variations between tracts. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent age-related variations also occur within tracts. DTI parameters were compared between segments of two white matter tracts, the cingulate bundle (CB) and the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO), in 257 healthy individuals between 13 and 84 years of age. Segments of the CB and the IFO were extracted and parameters for each segment were averaged across the hemispheres. The data was analysed as a function of age. Results show that age-related changes differ both between and within individual tracts. Different age trajectories were observed in all segments of the analysed tracts for all DTI parameters. In conclusion, aging does not affect white matter tracts uniformly but is regionally specific; both between and within white matter tracts. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)113-119
    Number of pages7
    JournalMagnetic Resonance Imaging
    Volume45
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jan-2018

    Keywords

    • Tractography
    • Inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus
    • Cingulum
    • Aging
    • White matter degeneration
    • White matter tract
    • FRONTO-OCCIPITAL FASCICULUS
    • HUMAN BRAIN
    • LIFE-SPAN
    • FRACTIONAL ANISOTROPY
    • CORTICOSPINAL TRACT
    • CINGULUM BUNDLE
    • AGE
    • STATISTICS
    • ANATOMY
    • VOLUME

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Diffusion tensor imaging and tractography of the white matter in normal aging: The rate-of-change differs between segments within tracts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this