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Global brain volume and N-acetyl-aspartate decline over seven decades of normal aging.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kirov, II; Sollberger, M; Davitz, MS; Glodzik, L; Soher, BJ; Babb, JS; Monsch, AU; Gass, A; Gonen, O
Published in: Neurobiol Aging
February 2021

We characterize the whole-brain N-acetyl-aspartate (WBNAA) and brain tissue fractions across the adult lifespan and test the hypothesis that, despite age-related atrophy, neuronal integrity (reflected by WBNAA) is preserved in normal aging. Two-hundred-and-seven participants: 133 cognitively intact older adults (73.6 ± 7.4 mean ± standard deviation, range: 60-90 year old) and 84 young (37.9 ± 11, range: 21-59 year old) were scanned with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and T1-weighted MRI. Their WBNAA, fractional brain parenchyma, and gray and white matter volumes (fBPV, fGM, and fWM) were compared and modeled as functions of age and sex. Compared with young, older-adults' WBNAA was lower by ~35%, and fBPV, fGM and fWM were lower by ~10%. Linear regressions found 0.5%/year WBNAA and 0.2%/year fBPV and fGM declines, whereas fWM rose to age ~40 years, and declined thereafter. fBPV and fGM were 1.8% and 4% higher in women, with no sex decline rates difference. We conclude that contrary to our hypothesis, atrophy was accompanied by WBNAA decline. Across the entire age range, women's brains showed less atrophy than men's. Formulas to estimate WBNAA and brain tissue fractions in healthy adults are provided to help differentiate normal from abnormal aging.

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Published In

Neurobiol Aging

DOI

EISSN

1558-1497

Publication Date

February 2021

Volume

98

Start / End Page

42 / 51

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sex Characteristics
  • Organ Size
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Healthy Aging
  • Gray Matter
  • Female
  • Brain
 

Citation

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Kirov, I. I., Sollberger, M., Davitz, M. S., Glodzik, L., Soher, B. J., Babb, J. S., … Gonen, O. (2021). Global brain volume and N-acetyl-aspartate decline over seven decades of normal aging. Neurobiol Aging, 98, 42–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.10.024
Kirov, Ivan I., Marc Sollberger, Matthew S. Davitz, Lidia Glodzik, Brian J. Soher, James S. Babb, Andreas U. Monsch, Achim Gass, and Oded Gonen. “Global brain volume and N-acetyl-aspartate decline over seven decades of normal aging.Neurobiol Aging 98 (February 2021): 42–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.10.024.
Kirov II, Sollberger M, Davitz MS, Glodzik L, Soher BJ, Babb JS, et al. Global brain volume and N-acetyl-aspartate decline over seven decades of normal aging. Neurobiol Aging. 2021 Feb;98:42–51.
Kirov, Ivan I., et al. “Global brain volume and N-acetyl-aspartate decline over seven decades of normal aging.Neurobiol Aging, vol. 98, Feb. 2021, pp. 42–51. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.10.024.
Kirov II, Sollberger M, Davitz MS, Glodzik L, Soher BJ, Babb JS, Monsch AU, Gass A, Gonen O. Global brain volume and N-acetyl-aspartate decline over seven decades of normal aging. Neurobiol Aging. 2021 Feb;98:42–51.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neurobiol Aging

DOI

EISSN

1558-1497

Publication Date

February 2021

Volume

98

Start / End Page

42 / 51

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sex Characteristics
  • Organ Size
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Healthy Aging
  • Gray Matter
  • Female
  • Brain