White matter differences between younger and older adults revealed by fixel-based analysis.

Feliberto de la Cruz, Andy Schumann, Katrin Rieger, Daniel Güllmar, Jürgen R Reichenbach, Karl-Jürgen Bär

Lab for Autonomic Neuroscience, Imaging and Cognition (LANIC), Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

The process of healthy aging involves complex alterations in neural structures, with white matter (WM) changes significantly impacting cognitive and motor functions. Conventional methods such as diffusion tensor imaging provide valuable insights, but their limitations in capturing complex WM geometry advocate for more advanced approaches. In this study involving 120 healthy volunteers, we investigated whole-brain WM differences between young and old individuals using a novel technique called fixel-based analysis (FBA). This approach revealed that older adults exhibited reduced FBA-derived metrics in several WM tracts, with frontal areas particularly affected. Surprisingly, age-related differences in FBA-derived measures showed no significant correlation with risk factors such as alcohol consumption, exercise frequency, or pulse pressure but predicted cognitive performance. These findings emphasize FBA's potential in characterizing complex WM changes and the link between cognitive abilities and WM alterations in healthy aging. Overall, this study advances our understanding of age-related neurodegeneration, highlighting the importance of comprehensive assessments that integrate advanced neuroimaging techniques, cognitive evaluation, and demographic factors to gain insights into healthy aging.

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Research summary

The paper investigates white matter differences between younger and older adults, focusing on the implications of these differences for cognitive performance in the context of healthy aging. While it does not address the root causes of aging or lifespan extension directly, it contributes to the understanding of age-related neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, which are important aspects of longevity research. The use of advanced neuroimaging techniques like fixel-based analysis adds value, but the findings are more incremental rather than groundbreaking, leading to a moderate impact score.

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