Cited by 542Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsCognitive Abilities and TestingDementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Differential Longitudinal Changes in Cortical Thickness, Surface Area and Volume across the Adult Life Span: Regions of Accelerating and Decelerating Change

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Storsve, A. B., Fjell, A. M., Tamnes, C. K., Westlye, L. T., Overbye, K., Aasland, H. W., Walhovd, K. B.·2014·Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Human cortical thickness and surface area are genetically independent, emerge through different neurobiological events during development, and are sensitive to different clinical conditions. However, the relationship between changes in the two over time is unknown. Additionally, longitudinal studies have almost invariably been restricted to older adults, precluding the delineation of adult life span trajectories of change in cortical structure. In this longitudinal study, we investigated changes in cortical thickness, surface area, and volume after an average interval of 3.6 years in 207 well screened healthy adults aged 23-87 years. We hypothesized that the relationships among metrics are dynamic across the life span, that the primary contributor to cortical volume reductions in aging is cortical thinning, and that magnitude of change varies with age and region. Changes over time were seen in cortical area (mean annual percentage change [APC], -0.19), thickness (APC, -0.35), and volume (APC, -0.51) in most regions. Volume changes were primarily explained by changes in thickness rather than area. A negative relationship between change in thickness and surface area was found across several regions, where more thinning was associated with less decrease in area, and vice versa. Accelerating changes with increasing age was seen in temporal and occipital cortices. In contrast, decelerating changes were seen in prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices. In conclusion, a dynamic relationship between cortical thickness and surface area changes exists throughout the adult life span. The mixture of accelerating and decelerating changes further demonstrates the importance of studying these metrics across the entire adult life span.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.0391-14.2014

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  • Longitudinal studies reported significant tissue atrophy in the temporal and occipital regions in non-pathological aging.

    “Overcoming the drawbacks of cross-sectional studies that have largely dominated clinical studies on aging, newer research based on the longitudinal studies has reported significant tissue atrophy in the temporal and occipital regions in non-pathological aging (Pfefferbaum et al, 2013;Storsve et al, 2014).”

    From Microglia Priming with Aging and Stress (2017) · cites this paper as Storsve et al, 2014

  • Neuroimaging studies have confirmed volumetric changes in brain regions of the elderly.

    “Neuroimaging studies have confirmed volumetric changes in brain regions of the elderly (Storsve et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2016).”

    From Microglia Priming with Aging and Stress (2017) · cites this paper as Storsve et al, 2014

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Authors
Storsve, A. B., Fjell, A. M., Tamnes, C. K., Westlye, L. T., Overbye, K., Aasland, H. W., & Walhovd, K. B.
Affiliations
  • University of Oslo (NO)
  • Oslo University Hospital (NO)
  • Lifespan (US)
Venue
Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2014-06-18
Volume
34
Issue
25
Pages
8488-8498
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2094788831
Cited by
542
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 34 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 55 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 67 · 2020: 66 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 20
FWCI
23.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Norges Forskningsråd
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Keywords
cortical thickness, cortical surface area, cortical volume, cortical thinning, accelerated aging, temporal cortex, occipital cortex, prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, healthy older adults
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Atrophy, Body Surface Area, Cerebral Cortex, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Longevity, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Organ Size, Young Adult

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