Relationship between aging and T1relaxation time in deep gray matter: A voxel-based analysis.
To investigate age-related changes in T1relaxation time in deep gray matter structures in healthy volunteers using magnetization-prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient echoes (MP2RAGE).



In all, 70 healthy volunteers (aged 20-76, mean age 42.6 years) were scanned at 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A MP2RAGE sequence was employed to quantify T1relaxation times. After the spatial normalization of T1maps with the diffeomorphic anatomical registration using the exponentiated Lie algebra algorithm, voxel-based regression analysis was conducted. In addition, linear and quadratic regression analyses of regions of interest (ROIs) were also performed.



With aging, voxel-based analysis (VBA) revealed significant T1value decreases in the ventral-inferior putamen, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala, whereas T1values significantly increased in the thalamus and white matter as well (P < 0.05 at cluster level, false discovery rate). ROI analysis revealed that T1values in the nucleus accumbens linearly decreased with aging (P = 0.0016), supporting the VBA result. T1values in the thalamus (P < 0.0001), substantia nigra (P = 0.0003), and globus pallidus (P < 0.0001) had a best fit to quadratic curves, with the minimum T1values observed between 30 and 50 years of age.



Age-related changes in T1relaxation time vary by location in deep gray matter.



2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:724-731.
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.
Gosuke
G
Okubo
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.
Tomohisa
T
Okada
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.
Akira
0000-0002-8894-3622
A
Yamamoto
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.
Yasutaka
0000-0002-1982-3168
Y
Fushimi
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.
Tsutomu
T
Okada
Siemens Healthcare KK, Ohsaki, Tokyo, Japan.
Katsutoshi
K
Murata
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.
Kaori
K
Togashi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
T1 relaxation time; aging; deep gray matter; nucleus accumbens; thalamus