Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aging

  • Published:
Neurological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The normal adult brain undergoes considerable morphological changes with aging. Studying these changes is paramount to differentiate normal age-related brain variations from the effects of neurodegenerative diseases affecting brain structure in the elderly. Considerable progress has been made in this research area during the past few decades, given the availability of noninvasive imaging tools such as magnetic resonance (MR). In recent years image acquisition devices, computer technology and software development have also advanced, allowing sophisticated methods for analyzing brain images, at both the macro-and microstructural level. In this article we will review studies assessing the effect of aging on global and regional gray and white matter volume using advanced MR techniques.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Liu RS, Lemieux L, Bell GS et al (2003) A longitudinal study of brain morphometrics using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging and difference image analysis. Neuroimage 20:22–33

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ge Y, Grossman RI, Babb JS et al (2002) Age-related total gray matter and white matter changes in normal adult brain. Part I: volumetric MR imaging analysis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 23:1327–1333

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Fotenos AF, Snyder AZ, Girton LE et al (2005) Normative estimates of cross-sectional and longitudinal brain volume decline in aging and AD. Neurology 64:1032–1039

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Jernigan TL, Archibald SL, Fennema-Notestine C et al (2001) Effects of age on tissues and regions of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Neurobiol Aging 22:581–594

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Scahill RI, Frost C, Jenkins R et al (2003) A longitudinal study of brain volume changes in normal aging using serial registered magnetic resonance imaging. Arch Neurol 60:989–994

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Riello R, Sabattoli F, Beltramello A et al (2005) Brain volumes in healthy adults aged 40 years and over: a voxel-based morphometry study. Aging Clin Exp Res 17:329–336

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Good CD, Johnsrude IS, Ashburner J et al (2001) A voxel-based morphometric study of ageing in 465 normal adult human brains. Neuroimage 14:21–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Smith CD, Chebrolu H, Wekstein DR et al (2007) Age and gender effects on human brain anatomy: a voxel-based morphometric study in healthy elderly. Neurobiol Aging 28:1075–1087

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sowell ER, Peterson BS, Thompson PM et al (2003) Mapping cortical change across the human life span. Nat Neurosci 6:309–315

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang L, Swank JS, Glick IE et al (2003) Changes in hippocampal volume and shape across time distinguish dementia of the Alzheimer type from healthy aging. Neuroimage 20:667–682

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ge Y, Grossman RI, Babb JS et al (2002) Age-related total gray matter and white matter changes in normal adult brain. Part II: quantitative magnetization transfer ratio histogram analysis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 23:1334–1341

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Benedetti B, Charil A, Rovaris M et al (2006) Influence of aging on brain gray and white matter changes assessed by conventional, MT, and DT MRI. Neurology 66:535–539

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hofman PA, Kemerink GJ, Jolles J, Wilmink JT (1999) Quantitative analysis of magnetization transfer images of the brain: effect of closed head injury, age and sex on white matter. Magn Reson Med 42:803–806

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Abe O, Yamasue H, Aoki S et al (2008) Aging in the CNS: comparison of gray/white matter volume and diffusion tensor data. Neurobiol Aging 29:102–116

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pagani E, Agosta F, Rocca MA et al (2008) Voxel-based analysis derived from fractional anisotropy images of white matter volume changes with aging. Neuroimage 41:657–667

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LENITEM — Laboratory of Epidemiology, Neuroimaging and Telemedicine, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni 4, 25125, Brescia, Italy

    Samantha Galluzzi & Giovanni B. Frisoni

  2. Psychogeriatric Ward, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy

    Giovanni B. Frisoni

  3. Neuroradiology Service, Ospedale Maggiore, Verona, Italy

    Alberto Beltramello

  4. Neuroimaging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute and University, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Massimo Filippi

Authors
  1. Samantha Galluzzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alberto Beltramello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Massimo Filippi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Giovanni B. Frisoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni B. Frisoni.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Galluzzi, S., Beltramello, A., Filippi, M. et al. Aging. Neurol Sci 29 (Suppl 3), 296–300 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-008-1002-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-008-1002-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation