title: Computed tomography in the elderly: changes over time in a normal population.
abstract: The clinical, psychometric, and computed tomographic (CT) status of previously fit elderly volunteers is described at follow-up for up to four years. A number of relationships were found between psychometric and CT scores, but a dementing group could not be determined on the basis of a single scan. However, a subtle reduction in cognition over time was significantly related to CT changes, and occurred in 10%. Larger ventricles were also found in a small sub-group, who developed late-onset depressive disorders; recent bereavement was related to ventricular size. Thus a single CT scan may not be a useful discriminatory test in early dementia, but a repeat demonstrating ventricular enlargement, is likely to be significant. In the elderly, cognitive and CT scan deterioration should not be expected unless a disease process is occurring; this may be indicated by subtle cognitive impairment or by late-onset depressive disorder.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography; D003071:Cognition; D003643:Death; D003704:Dementia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed