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Development and aging of superficial white matter myelin from young adulthood to old age: Mapping by vertex-based surface statistics (VBSS).

ABSTRACT: Superficial white matter (SWM) lies immediately beneath cortical gray matter and consists primarily of short association fibers. The characteristics of SWM and its development and aging were seldom examined in the literature and warrant further investigation. Magnetization transfer imaging is sensitive to myelin changes in the white matter. Using an innovative multimodal imaging analysis approach, vertex-based surface statistics (VBSS), the current study vertexwise mapped age-related changes of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) in SWM from young adulthood to old age (30-85 years, N = 66). Results demonstrated regionally selective and temporally heterochronologic changes of SWM MTR with age, including (1) inverted U-shaped trajectories of SWM MTR in the rostral middle frontal, medial temporal, and temporoparietal regions, suggesting continuing myelination and protracted maturation till age 40-50 years and accelerating demyelination at age 60 and beyond, (2) linear decline of SWM MTR in the middle and superior temporal, and pericalcarine areas, indicating early maturation and less acceleration in age-related degeneration, and (3) no significant changes of SWM MTR in the primary motor, somatosensory and auditory regions, suggesting resistance to age-related deterioration. We did not observe similar patterns of changes in cortical thickness in our sample, suggesting the observed SWM MTR changes are not due to cortical atrophy. Hum Brain Mapp 37:1759-1769, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

SUBMITTER: Wu M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6472924 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:White matter hyperintensities negatively impact white matter structure and relate to cognitive decline in aging. Diffusion tensor imaging detects changes to white matter microstructure, both within the white matter hyperintensity and extending into surrounding (perilesional) normal-appearing white matter. However, diffusion tensor imaging markers are not specific to tissue components, complicating the interpretation of previous microstructural findings. Myelin water imaging is a novel imaging technique that provides specific markers of myelin content (myelin water fraction) and interstitial fluid (geometric mean T2). Here we combined diffusion tensor imaging and myelin water imaging to examine tissue characteristics in white matter hyperintensities and perilesional white matter in 80 individuals (47 older adults and 33 individuals with chronic stroke). To measure perilesional normal-appearing white matter, white matter hyperintensity masks were dilated in 2 mm segments up to 10 mm in distance from the white matter hyperintensity. Fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, myelin water fraction, and geometric mean T2 were extracted from white matter hyperintensities and perilesional white matter. We observed a spatial gradient of higher mean diffusivity and geometric mean T2, and lower fractional anisotropy, in the white matter hyperintensity and perilesional white matter. In the chronic stroke group, myelin water fraction was reduced in the white matter hyperintensity but did not show a spatial gradient in perilesional white matter. Across the entire sample, white matter metrics within the white matter hyperintensity related to whole-brain white matter hyperintensity volume; with increasing white matter hyperintensity volume there was increased mean diffusivity and geometric mean T2, and decreased myelin water fraction in the white matter hyperintensity. Normal-appearing white matter adjacent to white matter hyperintensities exhibits characteristics of a transitional stage between healthy white matter and white matter hyperintensities. This effect was observed in markers sensitive to interstitial fluid, but not in myelin water fraction, the specific marker of myelin concentration. Within the white matter hyperintensity, interstitial fluid was higher and myelin concentration was lower in individuals with more severe cerebrovascular disease. Our data suggests white matter hyperintensities have penumbra-like effects in perilesional white matter that specifically reflect increased interstitial fluid, with no changes to myelin concentration. In contrast, within the white matter hyperintensity there are varying levels of demyelination, which vary based on the severity of cerebrovascular disease. Diffusion tensor imaging and myelin imaging may be useful clinical markers to predict white matter hyperintensity formation, and to stage neuronal damage within white matter hyperintensities.

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Development and aging of superficial white matter myelin from young adulthood to old age: Mapping by vertex-based surface statistics (VBSS).

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