Introduction: Based on recent research, it is not possible to completely differentiate physiological ageing of brain structures from initial, subclinical forms of dementia.
Purpose: The main goal of this study was to determine if the volumes of brain structures are decrease with ageing.
Materials and Methods: The study group was composed of 40 healthy patients who were divided in two groups, a younger group with an average age of 26.75 years ± 2.47 SD and an older group with average age of 68.5 ± 5.26 SD. All patients underwent MR brain examination and volumes of the brain structures were calculated by voxel based morphometry.
Results: In the group of the older patients compared to the younger group, there was a statistically significant decrease in the total cerebral volume (p<0.001), total gray matter volume (p<0.0001), total white matter volume (p<0.024), average thalamic volume (p<0.0001), average putamen volume (p<0.0001) and average caudate volume (p<0.004), while the average volume of the lateral ventricles was significantly increased (p<0.002). Linear correlation analysis showed significant negative correlation between age and total cerebral volume (p<0.001), total gray matter volume (p<0.001), total white matter volume (p<0.05), average thalamic volume (p<0.001), average putamen volume (p<0.001) and average caudate volume (p<0.001). Statistically significant positive correlation between the age and average volumes of lateral ventricles (p<0.001) was noted. No significant decrease in the volume of the hippocampi and amygdala was evident.
Conclusion: Healthy aging is not associated with significant volume loss of the hippocampi and amygdala.
