Open AccessCorrelation between gray matter density‐adjusted brain perfusion and age using brain MR images of 202 healthy children
Author(s) -
Taki Yasuyuki,
Hashizume Hiroshi,
Sassa Yuko,
Takeuchi Hikaru,
Wu Kai,
Asano Michiko,
Asano Kohei,
Fukuda Hiroshi,
Kawashima Ryuta
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.21163
Subject(s) - voxel , correlation , magnetic resonance imaging , perfusion , perfusion scanning , occipital lobe , nuclear medicine , white matter , frontal lobe , medicine , nuclear magnetic resonance , psychology , neuroscience , radiology , mathematics , physics , geometry
Abstract We examined the correlation between brain perfusion and age using pulsed arterial spin‐labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance images (MRI) in a large number of healthy children. We collected data on brain structural and ASL perfusion MRI in 202 healthy children aged 5–18 years. Structural MRI data were segmented and normalized, applying a voxel‐based morphometric analysis. Perfusion MRI was normalized using the normalization parameter of the corresponding structural MRI. We calculated brain perfusion with an adjustment for gray matter density (BP‐GMD) by dividing normalized ASL MRI by normalized gray matter segments in 22 regions. Next, we analyzed the correlation between BP‐GMD and age in each region by estimating linear, quadratic, and cubic polynomial functions, using the Akaike information criterion. The correlation between BP‐GMD and age showed an inverted U shape followed by a U‐shaped trajectory in most regions. In addition, age at which BP‐GMD was highest was different among the lobes and gray matter regions, and the BP‐GMD association with age increased from the occipital to the frontal lobe via the temporal and parietal lobes. Our results indicate that higher order association cortices mature after the lower order cortices, and may help clarify the mechanisms of normal brain maturation from the viewpoint of brain perfusion. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.