Associations of the shape of subcortical brain structures with age-related neuropathologies in community-based older adults

Multiple age-related neuropathologies lead to atrophy of subcortical brain structures. However, definitive diagnosis of most of these pathologies is only possible at autopsy, complicating investigations into the effects of age-related neuropathologies on the shape of subcortical brain structures. The present work combined ex-vivo MRI and detailed pathologic assessment in a large number (N=842) of community-based older adults to study the relationship between age-related neuropathologies and the shape of subcortical brain structures. The resulting deformation patterns may be used as features in in-vivo classifiers of age-related neuropathologies.