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. 2014 Jul 15;83(3):247-52.
doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000597. Epub 2014 Jun 13.

White matter changes with age utilizing quantitative diffusion MRI

Laurie M Baker  1 , David H Laidlaw  2 , Thomas E Conturo  2 , Joseph Hogan  2 , Yi Zhao  2 , Xi Luo  2 , Stephen Correia  2 , Ryan Cabeen  2 , Elizabeth M Lane  2 , Jodi M Heaps  2 , Jacob Bolzenius  2 , Lauren E Salminen  2 , Erbil Akbudak  2 , Amanda R McMichael  2 , Christina Usher  2 , Ashley Behrman  2 , Robert H Paul  2
Affiliations

White matter changes with age utilizing quantitative diffusion MRI

Laurie M Baker et al. Neurology. .

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between older age and mean cerebral white matter fiber bundle lengths (FBLs) in specific white matter tracts in the brain using quantified diffusion MRI.

Methods: Sixty-three healthy adults older than 50 years underwent diffusion tensor imaging. Tractography tracings of cerebral white matter fiber bundles were derived from the diffusion tensor imaging data.

Results: Results revealed significantly shorter FBLs in the anterior thalamic radiation for every 1-year increase over the age of 50 years.

Conclusions: We investigated the effects of age on FBL in specific white matter tracts in the brains of healthy older individuals utilizing quantified diffusion MRI. The results revealed a significant inverse relationship between age and FBL. Longitudinal studies of FBL across a lifespan are needed to examine the specific changes to the integrity of white matter.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Regression analysis between age and mean FBL in the anterior thalamic radiation
Significant inverse relationship (p < 0.05) between age and mean fiber bundle length (FBL) in the anterior thalamic radiation. Line of best fit (solid line) and 95% confidence interval (CI) (dashed lines).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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