Cited by 1,425Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAdvanced MRI Techniques and ApplicationsAging and Gerontology Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 48 of the 48 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 16 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies of Older Adults: A Shrinking Brain

Open access

Abstract

Age-related loss of brain tissue has been inferred from cross-sectional neuroimaging studies, but direct measurements of gray and white matter changes from longitudinal studies are lacking. We quantified longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 92 nondemented older adults (age 59-85 years at baseline) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging to determine the rates and regional distribution of gray and white matter tissue loss in older adults. Using images from baseline, 2 year, and 4 year follow-up, we found significant age changes in gray (p < 0.001) and white (p < 0.001) volumes even in a subgroup of 24 very healthy elderly. Annual rates of tissue loss were 5.4 +/- 0.3, 2.4 +/- 0.4, and 3.1 +/- 0.4 cm3 per year for total brain, gray, and white volumes, respectively, and ventricles increased by 1.4 +/- 0.1 cm3 per year (3.7, 1.3, 2.4, and 1.2 cm3, respectively, in very healthy). Frontal and parietal, compared with temporal and occipital, lobar regions showed greater decline. Gray matter loss was most pronounced for orbital and inferior frontal, cingulate, insular, inferior parietal, and to a lesser extent mesial temporal regions, whereas white matter changes were widespread. In this first study of gray and white matter volume changes, we demonstrate significant longitudinal tissue loss for both gray and white matter even in very healthy older adults. These data provide essential information on the rate and regional pattern of age-associated changes against which pathology can be evaluated and suggest slower rates of brain atrophy in individuals who remain medically and cognitively healthy.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.23-08-03295.2003

Cites

48 of 48 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims the paper makes

51 Own result · 14 Not checked yet · 12 Own interpretation · 5 Own method · 2 No basis given

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 25
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 5
30 of 30
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The 92 BLSA participants are representative of nondemented older adults aged 59–85, so the estimated rates and regional patterns generalize to that population.

    “This report provides the first evidence of substantial longitudinal declines in both gray and white matter brain volumes in older adults ranging in age from 59 to 85 years at baseline.”
    “this community-dwelling sample of older adults shows an average loss of 5.4 cm 3 of brain volume and increase of 1.4 cm 3 in ventricular volume each year.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The observed 4-year longitudinal changes reflect aging rather than secular or cohort effects.

    “rates of brain changes can only be determined from longitudinal investigations.”
    “we found significant age changes in gray ( p Ͻ 0.001) and white ( p Ͻ 0.001) volumes even in a subgroup of 24 very healthy elderly.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The observed brain tissue loss is not entirely attributable to preclinical dementia in all participants.

    “Although some argue that any tissue loss reflects pathological changes associated with preclinical dementia rather than normal aging, the uniformity of our findings across individuals argues against this interpretation unless all are in a preclinical stage of dementia.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Increases in ventricular volume reflect central brain atrophy.

    “the rates of increase in ventricular volume, reflecting central brain atrophy”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The sample is representative of normal older adults without dementia.

    “Our sample is composed of relatively healthy individuals, and they have shown, on average, little cognitive change over this initial 4 year interval.”
5 of 5

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Yan MXH, Karp JN (1995) An adaptive Bayesian approach to three- dimensional MR brain segmentation. In: Proceedings of XIVth Interna- tional Conference on Information Processing in Medical Imaging, pp 201-213. Ile de Berder, France, June.

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Metadata

Authors
Resnick, S. M., Pham, D. L., Kraut, M. A., Zonderman, A. B., & Davatzikos, C.
Affiliations
  • National Institute on Aging (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2003-04-15
Volume
23
Issue
8
Pages
3295-3301
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W1929729372
Cited by
1,425
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 54 · 2022: 66 · 2021: 90 · 2020: 77 · 2019: 72 · 2018: 79 · 2017: 68 · 2016: 71 · 2015: 65 · 2014: 79 · 2013: 68 · 2012: 72
FWCI
19.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
brain atrophy, gray matter loss, white matter loss, brain volume changes, aging, older adults, ventriculomegaly, healthy older adults, Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Brain, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Ventricles, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Regression Analysis, Sex Factors, Baltimore

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