title: Importance of Multimodal MRI in Characterizing Brain Tissue and Its Potential Application for Individual Age Prediction.
abstract: This study presents a voxel-based multiple regression analysis of different magnetic resonance image modalities, including anatomical T1-weighted, T2(*) relaxometry, and diffusion tensor imaging. Quantitative parameters sensitive to complementary brain tissue alterations, including morphometric atrophy, mineralization, microstructural damage, and anisotropy loss, were compared in a linear physiological aging model in 140 healthy subjects (range 20-74 years). The performance of different predictors and the identification of the best biomarker of age-induced structural variation were compared without a priori anatomical knowledge. The best quantitative predictors in several brain regions were iron deposition and microstructural damage, rather than macroscopic tissue atrophy. Age variations were best resolved with a combination of markers, suggesting that multiple predictors better capture age-induced tissue alterations. The results of the linear model were used to predict apparent age in different regions of individual brain. This approach pointed to a number of novel applications that could potentially help highlighting areas particularly vulnerable to disease.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cherubini
authors.forename: Maria Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Caligiuri
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peran
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sabatini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cosentino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers