title: Age-Related Cortical Thickness Reduction in Non-Demented Down's Syndrome Subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristic pattern of age-related cortical thinning in patients with Down Syndrome (DS), as assessed by MRI and automatic cortical thickness measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one non-demented subjects with DS (range 11-53 years) were examined using a 1.5 T scanner. MRI-based quantification of cortical thickness was performed using FreeSurfer software package., The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between age and mean cortical thickness was evaluated for all subjects participating in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant negative correlation between cortical thickness and age was found bilaterally in the frontal, temporal, parietal and cingulate gyrus. Specific investigation of cerebral lobes showed a more evident involvement of the frontal one, compared to others. Moreover, the age related reduction of cortical thickness appeared to be more significant and rapid in patients between 20 and 30 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed that Down Syndrome subjects are affected by a diffuse cortical thinning. The involvement of cortical structures can be observed at an earlier age than previous studies have reported.
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Foundation, Rehabilitation Facility, Merit Project RBNE08E8CZ.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Departments of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neurosciences.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cornia
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Foundation, Rehabilitation Facility, Merit Project RBNE08E8CZ.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moraschi
authors.affiliation: University Sapienza, NESMOS, Department of Neuroradiology, S.Andrea Hospital.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozzao
authors.affiliation: University Sapienza, Department of Medical Phisics, S.Andrea Hospital.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiacchiararelli
authors.affiliation: University Sapienza, NESMOS, Department of Neuroradiology, S.Andrea Hospital.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Communication and Economy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iani
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Departments of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neurosciences.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.affiliation: IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Department of Pediatry.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albertini
authors.affiliation: IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Department of Radiology.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pierallini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D001284:Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Down Syndrome; MRI; aging; cortical thinning; free-surfer