Characterizing axonal myelination within the healthy population: a tract-by-tract mapping of effects of age and gender on the fiber g-ratio

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• 作者：Mara Cercignani^a ; ^b ; ^{m.cercignani@bsms.ac.uk} ; Giovanni Giulietti^b ; Nick G. Dowell^a ; Matt Gabel^a ; Rebecca Broad^b ; P. Nigel Leigh^b ; Neil A. Harrison^a ; Marco Bozzali^b
• 关键词：Myelination ; White matter ; Axonal conduction ; Lateralization
• 刊名：Neurobiology of Aging
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：January 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：49
• 期：Complete
• 页码：109-118
• 全文大小：1892 K
• 卷排序：49

文摘

The g-ratio, equal to the ratio of the inner-to-outer diameter of a myelinated axon, is associated with the speed of conduction, and thus reflects axonal function and integrity. It is now possible to estimate an “aggregate” g-ratio in vivo using MRI. The aim of this study was to assess the variation of the MRI-derived fiber g-ratio in the brain of healthy individuals, and to characterize its variation across the lifespan. Thirty-eight healthy participants, aged between 20 and 76, were recruited. Whole-brain g-ratio maps were computed and analyzed voxel-wise. Median tract g-ratio values were also extracted. No significant effect of gender was found, whereas age was found to be significantly associated with the g-ratio within the white matter. The tract-specific analysis showed this relationship to follow a nearly-linear increase, although the slope appears to slow down slightly after the 6th decade of life. The most likely interpretation is a subtle but consistent reduction in myelin throughout adulthood, with the density of axons beginning to decrease between the 4th and 5th decade.