MR volumetric study of piriform-cortical amygdala and orbitofrontal cortices: the aging effect.
BACKGROUND
The piriform cortex and cortical amygdala (PCA) and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) are considered olfactory-related brain regions. This study aims to elucidate the normal volumes of PCA and OFC of each age groups (20.0-70.0 year old), and whether the volumes of PCA and OFC decline with increasing age and diminishing olfactory function.


METHODS
One hundred and eleven healthy right-handed participants (54 males, 57 females), age 20.0 to 70.0 years were recruited to join this study after excluding all the major causes of olfactory dysfunction. Volumetric measurements of PCA and OFC were performed using consecutive 1-mm thick coronal slices of high-resolution 3-D MRIs. A validated olfactory function test (Sniffin' Sticks) assessed olfactory function, which measured odor threshold (THD), odor discrimination (DIS), and odor identification (ID) as well as their sum score (TDI).


RESULTS
The volume of OFC decreased with age and significantly correlated with age-related declines in olfactory function. The volume of OFC showed significant age-group differences, particularly after 40 years old (p < 0.001), while olfactory function decreased significantly after 60 years old (p < 0.001). Similar age-related volumetric changes were not found for PCA (p = 0.772). Additionally, there was significant correlation between OFC and DIS on the Right Side (p = 0.028) and between OFC and TDI on both sides (p < 0.05). There was no similar correlation for PCA.


CONCLUSIONS
Aging can have a great impact on the volume of OFC and olfactory function while it has much smaller effect on the volume of PCA. The result could be useful to establish normal volumes of PCA and OFC of each age group to assess neurological disorders that affect olfactory function.
Department of Radiology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, China.
Jing
J
Shen
Mohammad A
MA
Kassir
Jianlin
J
Wu
Qing
Q
Zhang
Shiyu
S
Zhou
Stephanie Y
SY
Xuan
Qinghang
Q
Li
Yongquan
Y
Ye
Jiani
J
Hu
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055696:Olfactory Perception; D009929:Organ Size; D055815:Young Adult