Age related T2-FSE-MRI basal ganglia and inter-nuclei changes in normal aging

To evaluate clinically easy to obtain parameters such as area and T2 MR signal intensity (SI) profiles from right and left caudate, putamen and thalamus nuclei and to describe age-related and inter-nuclei changes in both genders in healthy subjects, 71 healthy subjects (22–80 years old, 52 females) were evaluated with 1.5 T MRI conventional axial T2-Fast axial spin echo sequences obtaining SI and cross-sectional areas from caudate, putamen and thalamus nuclei using manually defined ROIs. Regression analysis were performed between age and MR parameters for inter-nuclei, gender and hemisphere side. Male basal ganglia show lower SI than those from females. Aging was differentially associated to a progressive lowering of basal nuclei SI in both genders. Male basal ganglia show SI changes following a positive quadratic function. Aging modifies differentially SI from all nuclei pair combination in both genders, showing mainly negative quadratic function. Age-related reduction of female caudate and a right lateralization for caudate nucleus SI in both genders were found. Healthy age-related nonlinear changes in SI from basal ganglia were defined for both genders. Basal ganglia show differential age-related changes. These results can be helpful to differentiate normal from abnormal aging changes.