Assessing Age-Related Gray Matter Differences in Young Adults with Voxel-Based Morphometry: The Effect of Field Strengths

• Published in: Brain sciences Vol. 11; no. 4; p. 447
• Main Authors: Su, Feng-Yi, Chen, Jyun-Ru, Chen, Chun-Ming, Huang, Yen-Chih, Peng, Shin-Lei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 31.03.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Age; Automation; Brain; Cerebellum; Communication; field strength; gray matter; Investigations; Magnetic fields; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mental disorders; Morphology; Morphometry; Software; Substantia grisea; visual cortex; voxel-based morphometry (VBM); Young adults; United States > US; voxel-based morphometry (VBM); visual cortex; field strength; cerebellum; gray matter
• ISSN: 2076-3425; 2076-3425
• DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040447

Knowing the patterns of brain differences with age in the young population could lead to a better understanding of the causes of certain psychiatric disorders; however, relevant information is insufficient. Here, a pattern of regional gray matter (GM) that changed with age in a young cohort aged 20-30 years was provided. Extending from previous age studies, all participants were imaged at both 1.5 T and 3 T to address the question of how far the field strength influences results. Fifty-nine young participants aged 20-30 years were scanned at both 1.5 T and 3 T. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to estimate the GM volume. Some brain regions showed a significant field strength-dependent difference in GM volume. VBM uncovered a significantly age-related increase in the GM volume in the left visual-associated area at 3 T, which was not detected at 1.5 T. In addition, voxels at 1.5 T that revealed a significant age-related reduction in the GM volume were found in the right cerebellum. In conclusion, age-related differences in human brain morphology could even be detected in a young cohort aged 20-30 years; however, the results varied across field strengths. Thus, field strength should be considered an important factor when comparing age-specific brain differences across studies.