Novel Volumetric and Surface-Based Magnetic Resonance Indices of the Aging Brain – Does Male and Female Brain Age in the Same Way?

Abstract

Introduction: Novel post-processing methods allow not only for assessment of brain volumetry or cortical thickness based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but also for more detailed analysis of cortical shape and complexity using parameters such as sulcal depth, gyrification index, or fractal dimension. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in brain volumetry and other cortical indices during aging in men and women.Material and Methods: Material consisted of 697 healthy volunteers (aged 38–80 years; M/F, 264/443) who underwent brain MRI using a 1.5-T scanner. Voxel-based volumetry of total gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was performed followed by assessment of cortical parameters [cortical thickness (CT), sulcal depth (SD), gyrification index (GI), and fractal dimension (FD)] in 150 atlas locations using surface-based morphometry with a region-based approach. All parameters were compared among seven age groups (grouped every 5 years) separately for men and women. Additionally, percentile curves for men and women were provided for total volumes of GM, WM, and CSF.Results: In men and women, a decrease in GM and WM volumes and an increase in CSF volume seem to progress slowly since the age of 45. In men, significant GM and WM loss as well as CSF increase start above 55 years of age, while in women, significant GM loss starts above 50 and significant WM loss as well as CSF increase above 60. CT was found to significantly decrease with aging in 39% of locations in women and in 36% of locations in men, SD was found to increase in 13.5% of locations in women and in 1.3% of locations in men, GI was decreased in 3.4% of locations in women and in 2.0% of locations in men, and FD was changed in 2.7% of locations in women compared to 2.0% in men.Conclusions: Male and female brains start aging at the similar age of 45. Compared to men, in women, the cortex is affected earlier and in the more complex pattern regarding not only cortical loss but also other alterations within the cortical shape, with relatively longer sparing of WM volume.

Biological Brain Age Prediction Using Machine Learning on Structural Neuroimaging Data: Multi-Cohort Validation Against Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration stratified by sex

“…In particular, we found reduction in the superior-frontal, isthmus-cingulate and pars orbitalis regions within males and regions such as inferior-parietal, pars triangularis and paracentral within females. Most of these sex-specific regions were in concordance with previous studies (Armstrong et al, 2019; Podgórski et al, 2021). The mechanisms underlying these sex-specific brain aging differences are not well-known.…”

“…In addition, large-scale brain age studies have demonstrated its adequacy (Bashyam et al, 2020; de Lange et al, 2019; de Lange, Barth, et al, 2020; Kaufmann et al, 2019). As it has been shown that there are sex-related trajectories in normal aging (Podgórski et al, 2021), we trained separate models for females and males. For each model, we first performed Bayesian parameter optimization based on a cross-validation scheme with ten folds and ten repeats per fold using the FreeSurfer volumes and thickness of the UK BioBank as input.…”

Sex‐based disparities in outcome in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Children’s Oncology Group report

“…30 Sex-based differences in CSF volume, however, have not been rigorously evaluated, although recent studies have suggested that adult females may have lower CSF volumes. 31 Lower CSF volumes among girls as compared to age-matched boys would result in higher concentrations of intrathecal chemotherapy among the former. Finally, boys in our cohort received an extra year of maintenance therapy as compared to girls, including 4 extra intrathecal treatments.…”

“…Age‐related dosing has thus been associated with increased therapeutic effect and reduced neurotoxicity 30 . Sex‐based differences in CSF volume, however, have not been rigorously evaluated, although recent studies have suggested that adult females may have lower CSF volumes 31 . Lower CSF volumes among girls as compared to age‐matched boys would result in higher concentrations of intrathecal chemotherapy among the former.…”

Plasmalogens Eliminate Aging-Associated Synaptic Defects and Microglia-Mediated Neuroinflammation in Mice

“…The decline of cognitive function in humans is progressive, usually starting at middle age ( Schönknecht et al, 2005 ). Compared to males, age-related cognitive decline and brain atrophy occur earlier in females ( Yuan et al, 2012 ; Podgórski et al, 2021 ). Women have a higher life expectancy than men, but reported a higher prevalence of dementia ( Corrada et al, 2008 ).…”