To study the variation tendency of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) imaging markers and total burden with aging and to research the relationship between aging, CSVD markers and cognitive function. Methods: Participants in local urban communities were recruited for neuropsychological and magnetic resonance imaging assessments. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), Number Connection Test A (NCT-A) and Digital Symbol Test (DST) were adopted as neuropsychological scale. Age was stratified at 5-year intervals, and the variation tendency of imaging markers and variables of neuropsychological scales in different age groups was studied. We further studied the relationship between aging, image markers and neuropsychological scales by multi-linear regression. Results: Finally, a total of 401 stroke-free participants (age, 54.83±7.74y; 45.9% were male) were included in the present analysis. With the increase of age, the incidence of imaging markers of CSVD were increased with aging except cerebral microbleeds. The performance results of NCT-A and DST were significant difference in 6 age groups (P < 0.001). In addition, linear decline of the neuropsychological function reflected by NCT-A and DST variables was observed. Linear regression found that age was an independent factor affecting the neuropsychological function reflected by NCT-A and DST variables, and the standard correction coefficients among different age groups increased gradually with age. In addition, brain atrophy is an independent factor affecting neuropsychological variables (odds ratio: −2.929, 95% CI: [−5.094 to −0.765]). There was no correlation between the number of neuroimaging markers and neuropsychological variables after full adjustment. Conclusion: There are many CVSD markers even in younger people, the incidence rate and CVSD marker numbers increase with age. Aging and CSVD may eventually affect cognitive function through brain atrophy.

Objectives: To evaluate whether 3D amide proton transfer weighted (APTw) imaging based on magnetization transfer analysis can be used as a novel imaging marker to distinguish amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients from the normal elderly population by measuring changes in APTw signal intensity in the hippocampus and amygdala.Materials and Methods: Seventy patients with aMCI and 74 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited for routine MRI and APT imaging examinations. Magnetic transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasym) of the amide protons (at 3.5 ppm), or APTw values, were measured in the bilateral hippocampus and amygdala on three consecutive cross-sectional APT images and were compared between the aMCI and control groups. The independent sample t-test was used to evaluate the difference in APTw values of the bilateral hippocampus and amygdala between the aMCI and control groups. Receiver operator characteristic analysis was used to assess the diagnostic performance of the APTw. The paired t-test was used to assess the difference in APTw values between the left and right hippocampus and amygdala, in both the aMCI and control groups.Results: The APTw values of the bilateral hippocampus and amygdala in the aMCI group were significantly higher than those in the control group (left hippocampus 1.01 vs. 0.77% p &lt; 0.001; right hippocampus 1.02 vs. 0.74%, p &lt; 0.001; left amygdala 0.98 vs. 0.70% p &lt; 0.001; right amygdala 0.94 vs. 0.71%, p &lt; 0.001). The APTw values of the left amygdala had the largest AUC (0.875) at diagnosis of aMCI. There was no significant difference in APTw values between the left and right hippocampus and amygdala, in either group. (aMCI group left hippocampus 1.01 vs. right hippocampus 1.02%, p = 0.652; healthy control group left hippocampus 0.77 vs. right hippocampus 0.74%, p = 0.314; aMCI group left amygdala 0.98 vs. right amygdala 0.94%, p = 0.171; healthy control group left amygdala 0.70 vs. right amygdala 0.71%, p = 0.726).Conclusion: APTw can be used as a new imaging marker to distinguish aMCI patients from the normal elderly population by indirectly reflecting the changes in protein content in the hippocampus and amygdala.

Background There is an overlap comparing transition zone prostate cancer (TZ PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on T2‐weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), creating additional challenges for assessment of TZ tumors on MRI. Purpose To evaluate whether amide proton transfer‐weighted (APTw) imaging provides new diagnostic ideas for TZ PCa. Study type Prospective. Population A total of 51 TZ PCa patients (age, 49–89), 44 stromal BPH (age, 57–92), and 45 glandular BPH patients (age, 56–92). Field Strength/Sequence A 3 T; T2WI turbo spin echo (TSE), quantitative T2*‐weighted imaging, DWI echo planar imaging, 3D APTw TSE. Assessment Differences in APTw, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and T2* among three lesions were compared by one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Regions of interest were drawn by two radiologists (X.Q.Z. and X.Y.Q., with 21 and 15 years of experience, respectively). Statistical Tests Multivariable logistic regression analyses; ANOVA with post hoc testing; receiver operator characteristic curve analysis; Delong test. Significance level: P < 0.05. Results APTw among TZ PCa, stromal BPH, and glandular BPH (3.48% ± 0.83% vs. 2.76% ± 0.49% vs. 2.72% ± 0.45%, respectively) were significantly different except between stromal BPH and glandular BPH (P > 0.99). Significant differences were found in ADC (TZ PCa 0.76 ± 0.16 × 10−3 mm2/sec vs. stromal BPH 0.91 ± 0.14 × 10−3 mm2/sec vs. glandular BPH 1.08 ± 0.18 × 10−3 mm2/sec) among three lesions. APTw (OR = 12.18, 11.80, respectively) and 1/ADC (OR = 703.87, 181.11, respectively) were independent predictors of TZ PCa from BPH and stromal BPH. The combination of APTw and ADC had better diagnostic performance in the identification of TZ PCa from BPH and stromal BPH. Data Conclusion APTw imaging has the potential to be of added value to ADC in differentiating TZ PCa from BPH and stromal BPH. Evidence Level 2 Technical Efficacy Stage 2