Fixel-based analysis for exploring aging effect on healthy cerebral white matter
10.3969/j.issn.1005-202X.2025.05.009
- VernacularTitle:基于纤维群组分析研究健康脑白质老化效应
- Author:
Wei JIN
1
;
Hao LIU
;
Zheng SUN
;
Dan WANG
;
Ruiyao JIANG
Author Information
1. 上海市第六人民医院医学装备处,上海 200233
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
cerebral white matter;
aging effect;
diffusion tensor imaging;
fractional anisotropy;
fixel-based analysis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics
2025;42(5):613-619
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore aging effect on healthy cerebral white matter using fixel-based analysis(FBA)on diffusion tensor imaging.Methods Eighty-seven healthy participants were divided into younger group and older group according to their ages,and all of whom were examined with diffusion tensor imaging at 3.0T.The fractional anisotropy(FA)of two groups was compared using whole brain voxel-based analysis(VBA).Then,FBA was used to calculate complexity(CX),fiber density(FD),fiber cross-section(FC)and fiber density and fiber cross-section(FDC)in voxels where older group exhibited significantly lower FA values than younger group.Finally,certain tracts of interest were chosen for tract-specific analyses.Results Compared with younger group,older group had significantly lower FA values in the genu of corpus callosum,splenium of corpus callosum,fornix,and posterior limb of internal capsule(P<0.05).Besides the above regions,older group showed significantly lower FD,FC and FDC in the anterior thalamic radiation,anterior limb of internal capsule,cerebral peduncle,superior longitudinal fasciculus,inferior longitudinal fasciculus,cingulum gyrus,forceps-minor and uncinate fasciculus(P<0.05).In voxels where FA values of older group were significantly lower than those of younger group,strong negative correlation was observed between average CX and average FA,while positive correlation was observed between average FD/FDC and average FA.Quantitative tract-specific analyses showed that older group had showed lower FD,FC and FDC in regard of superior longitudinal fasciculus,inferior longitudinal fasciculus,cingulum,anterior thalamic radiation,forceps-minor and uncinate fasciculus(P<0.05).Conclusion FBA reveals the characteristics of specific fibers and can be used to perform comprehensive and effective evaluation of aging effect on healthy cerebral white matter.
