Age‐related changes in cortical and subcortical structures of healthy adult brains: A surface‐based morphometry study

BACKGROUND: Cerebral structures in both cortical and subcortical regions change with aging. More specific and comprehensive studies are needed to better elucidate these changes. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationships between age and cerebral structures regarding cortical and subcortical changes. STUDY TYPE: Cross-cohort research. POPULATION: 54 healthy adults (28 females) aged 21-71 years. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: -weighted imaging was performed at 1.5T. ASSESSMENT: The cortical thickness, local gyrification index (LGI), and the volumes of total gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), white matter hyperintensity (WMH), deep gray matter nuclei (putamen, pallidum, thalamus, caudate, amygdala, accumbens area, and hippocampus), ventricles, and hippocampal subfields were obtained using FreeSurfer software. STATISTICAL TESTS: > 0.16 were considered significant. RESULTS: < 0.16; P > 0.001). DATA CONCLUSION: The results comprehensively show the relationships between age and cerebral structures in multiple brain regions, and these findings may help identify normal aging and other age-related neuroradiological disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:152-163.