Age-related alterations in DTI metrics in the human brain—consequences for age correction

peer-reviewed
Erstveröffentlichung
2021-06-15Authors
Behler, Anna
Kassubek, Jan Rainer
Müller, Hans-Peter
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Published in
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ; 13 (2021). - Art.-Nr. 682109. - eISSN 1663-4365
Link to original publication
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.682109Institutions
UKU. Klinik für NeurologieDocument version
published version (publisher's PDF)Abstract
Background: Over the life span, the diffusion metrics in brain MRI show different,
partly nonlinear changes. These age-dependent changes also seem to exhibit regional
differences with respect to the brain anatomy. The age correction of a study cohort’s
diffusion metrics might thus require consideration of age-related factors.
Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging data sets were acquired from 219 healthy
participants at ages between 19 and 81 years. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity
(MD), and axial and radial diffusivity (AD and RD, respectively) maps were analyzed by a
tract of interest-based fiber tracking approach. To describe diffusion metrics as a function
of the participant age, linear splines were used to perform curve fitting in 21 specific tract
systems covering different functional areas and diffusion directions.
Results: In the majority of tracts, an interpolation with a change of alteration rate
during adult life described the diffusion properties more accurately than a linear model.
Consequently, the diffusion properties remained relatively stable until a decrease (of FA) or
increase (of MD, AD, and RD) started at a region-specific time point, whereas a uniform
change of diffusion properties was observed only in a few tracts. Single tracts, e.g.,
located in the cerebellum, remained nearly unaltered throughout the ages between 19
and 81 years.
Conclusions: Age corrections of diffusion properties should not be applied to all white
matter regions and all age spans in the same way. Therefore, we propose three different
approaches for age correction based on fiber tracking techniques, i.e., no correction for
areas that do not experience age-related changes and two variants of an age correction
depending on the age range of the cohort and the tracts considered.
Publication funding
Open-Access-Förderung durch die Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Ulm
Is supplemented by
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.682109/full#supplementary-materialSubject headings
[GND]: Kernspintomografie | Diffusionsgewichtete Magnetresonanztomografie | Anisotropie[MeSH]: Diffusion tensor imaging | Magnetic resonance imaging | Anisotropy | Age factors
[Free subject headings]: Age dependence | Fractional anisotropy | Diffusivity
[DDC subject group]: DDC 610 / Medicine & health
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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.18725/OPARU-38063
Behler, Anna; Kassubek, Jan Rainer; Müller, Hans-Peter (2021): Age-related alterations in DTI metrics in the human brain—consequences for age correction. Open Access Repositorium der Universität Ulm und Technischen Hochschule Ulm. http://dx.doi.org/10.18725/OPARU-38063
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