Age-related white matter changes in high b-value q-space diffusion-weighted imaging.
BACKGROUND
To assess and compare age-related diffusion changes in the white matter in different cerebral lobes, as quantified by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and high b-value q-space imaging (QSI).


METHODS
Seventy-three cases without neurological symptoms or imaging abnormalities were grouped by age as young (<30 years, n = 20), middle-aged (30-49 years, n = 19), old (50-69 years, n = 18), and very old (> 70 years, n = 16) and imaged by a 1.5-T MR scanner for DWI and QSI. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and mean displacement (MDP) values were calculated in the white matter of frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes and compared using Dunnett's test, with the young group as a control.


RESULTS
MDP values in frontal and parietal lobes were significantly higher in old and very old age groups than in the young, while those in the temporal lobes were significantly higher only in the very old group. ADC values were significantly higher in all three lobes in the very old group.


CONCLUSIONS
QSI is more sensitive than DWI to age-related myelin loss in white matter.
Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chūō, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan.
Zareen
Z
Fatima
Utaroh
U
Motosugi
Masaaki
M
Hori
Toshiyuki
T
Onodera
Keiichi
K
Ishigame
Kazuo
K
Yagi
Tsutomu
T
Araki
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000465:Algorithms; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult