In vivo stereological assessment of caudate volume in man: effect of normal aging.
Using intermediate weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a systematic sampling stereological method in 39 normal volunteers aged 24-79 years old, we demonstrated a marked age-associated decline in caudate nuclei volume (r = -0.69, p less than 0.0001). The mean absolute volume of the caudate nuclei in this study (9.4 cm3) was almost identical to that reported in a previous autopsy study and further confirms the validity of this stereological technique for use with MR images. This technique will provide a method for measuring the caudate and other nuclei in vivo, from brain images and, as such, a research tool to correlate age-associated changes in cognitive, sensory and motor function with caudate nucleus volume and other brain regions.
Krishnan
K R
KR
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
Husain
M M
MM
McDonald
W M
WM
Doraiswamy
P M
PM
Figiel
G S
GS
Boyko
O B
OB
Ellinwood
E H
EH
Nemeroff
C B
CB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics