Age-related shrinkage of the mamillary bodies: in vivo MRI evidence.
Mamillary body (MB) is a diencephalic structure hypothesized to be involved in memory, a cognitive function that declines with age. In this study, age-related differences in the size of MB were examined in vivo using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The cross-sectional area of the MB was estimated from MR images of the brain in healthy volunteers and neurologically intact patients (age 18-78). The cross-sectional area of the tectum was used as a control region of interest. We found a significant age-related reduction in the area of the MB, but not of the tectum. No sex differences were observed in the size of either structure.
Raz
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Department of Psychology, Memphis State University, TN 38152.
Torres
I J
IJ
Acker
J D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008326:Mammillary Bodies / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values