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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Publication Preview: Published November 5, 2009

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American Journal of Neuroradiology
DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A1862

BRAIN

Normal Aging in the Basal Ganglia Evaluated by Eigenvalues of Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Q. Wang, X. Xu and M. Zhang

From the Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Please address correspondence to Mingming Zhang, MD, Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qing Chun Rd, Hangzhou 310003, China; e-mail: cjr.zhangminming{at}vip.163.com

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The age effect on the diffusion pattern in the basal ganglia differs from that in the white matter. The main purpose of our study was to provide further insight into the change of water diffusion in the basal ganglia during human brain aging by using the eigenvalues of DTI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 71 healthy subjects (mean age, 41.8 ± 14.5 years; age range, 20–79 years). The values of MD, FA, and the eigenvalues ₁ and ₂₃ (₂₃ = [₂ + ₃] / 2) were determined in regions of the head of the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and in some regions of white matter. The age-dependence of these measurements was tested for statistical significance by using the Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS: A significant reduction of MD with aging was found in the head of caudate nucleus (r = –0.319, P = .007) and putamen (r = –0.410, P < .001), and an increase in FA with aging was found in the putamen (r = 0.535, P< .001). Eigenvalue ₂₃ showed a significant age-related decrease in the putamen (r = –0.451, P< .001) and the head of the caudate nucleus (r = –0.312, P = .008), but no significant changes of ₂₃ were found in the globus pallidus. The results for eigenvalue ₁ in the head of caudate nucleus (r = –0.299, P = .011) were close to statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS: The eigenvalues provide more insights into the different diffusion patterns in the basal ganglia during human brain aging.

Abbreviations: MD, mean diffusivity