The Age-related Microstructural Changes of the Cortical Gray and White Matter Ratios on T2-, FLAIR and T1- weighted MR Images

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the microstructural changes according to aging on the thickness and signal intensity (SI) of the cortical gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) on the T2-, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T1-weighted MR images in normal subjects. Materials and Methods : The 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 year age groups of men and women (each 10 individuals) who underwent routine brain MRI, including the T2-, FLAIR and T1-weighted images, were selected for this study. We measured the thickness and the SI of the cortical GM and WM at the postcentral gyrus, which has an even thickness at the level of centrum semiovale, on the axial scans and we calculated the mean values of the thickness ratio of the gray/white matter (TRGW) and the signal intensity ratio of the gray/white matter (SRGW), and we compared the ratios of each age group. Results : On the T2-weighted images, the TRGWs were 0.81 and 0.79 at the age of 10 and they were 0.73 and 0.71 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. So, the GM thickness was decreased more than the WM thickness was with aging. On the FLAIR images, the TRGWs were 1.09 and 1.00 at the age of 10 and they were 1.11 and 0.95 at the age of 70 in the men and women, respectively. On the T1-weighted images, the TRGWs were 0.66 and 0.80 at the age of 10, and the ratio was changed to 0.90 and 0.78 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. On the T2-weighted image, the SRGWs were 1.53 and 1.43 at the age of 10, and they were 1.23 and 1.27 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. On the FLAIR images, the SRGWs were 1.23 and 1.25 at the age of 10 and they were 1.06 and 1.05 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. On the T1-weighted images, the SRGWs were 0.86 and 0.85 at the age of 10, and they were 0.90 and 0.87 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. Conclusion : We suggest that the age-related microstructural changes of the thickness and the SI of the cortical GM and WM on the T2-, FLAIR and T1-weighted images are unique, and so this knowledge will be helpful to differentiate neurodegenerative disease from normal aging of the brain.

T2, FLAIR, T1 강조 MR영상에서 나이에 따른 뇌피질의 회질과 백질의 미세구조 변화

목적: 정상인의 나이에 따른 뇌피질의 회질과 백질의 T2 강조, FLAIR, T1 강조 영상에서의 두께와 신호강도의 미세구조 변화 양상을 알고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 남녀 각각 10 명씩의 10세, 20세, 30세, 40세, 50세, 60세, 70세, 80세, 90세 군의 T2, FLAIR, T1 강조 MR영상을 이용하였다. 뇌의 난형중심 부위의 축상영상에서 일정한 두께를 보이는 후중심뇌회 부위에서 피질의 회질과 백질의 두께와 신호강도를 측정하여, 각 군의 평균값을 구하여 나이 증가에 따른 회질/백질 두께 비와 회질/백질의 신호강도 비의 변화 양상을 비교 관찰하였다. 결과: T2 강조영상에서 회질/백질 두께 비는 남녀 각각 10세에는 0.81과 0.79, 90세에는 0.73과 0.71로써 회질이 백질의 두께보다 더 감소하였으며, 회질/백질 신호 비는 10세에는 1.53과 1.43, 90세에는 1.23과 1.27로써 남녀 각 20%와 11% 감소하였다. FLAIR 영상에서 회질/백질 두께 비는 남녀 각각 10세에는 1.09와 1.00, 70세에는 1.11과 0.95였으며, 회질/백질 신호 비는 10세에는 1.23과 1.25, 90세에는 1.06과 1.05로써 남녀 각각 14%와 16% 감소하였다. T1 강조영상에서 회질/백질 두께 비는 남녀 각각 10세에는 0.66과 0.80이었고, 90세에는 0.90과 0.78로 변화하였으며, 회질/백질 신호 비는 10세에는 0.86과 0.85, 90세에는 0.90과 0.87로써 남녀 각각 5%와 2% 증가하였다. 결론: T2, FLAIR, T1 강조영상에서 뇌파질의 회질과 백질의 나이증가에 따른 두께와 미세신호강도의 변화 양상은 특징적이며, 이 양상을 이해하는 것은 뇌의 정상 노화와 퇴행성 질환을 구별하는데 도움을 줄 것으로 생각된다.