Measuring Brain Stiffness in Normal Adults According to Age and Sex Using Virtual MR Elastography: A Preliminary Study

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Virtual shear modulus (μdiff, (kPa), of the brain showing regional differences. (a) The μdiff calculated in WM is higher than that in GM but lower than that in deep structures. (b) In lobar areas, the occipital lobe had the highest μdiff value, while the temporal lobe had the lowest (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between frontal and parietal lobes (P = 1.00).GM, gray matter; WM, white matter.

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  Fig. 2. Plot of virtual shear modulus (μdiff, kPa), of the cerebrum showing brain stiffness according to age in males (blue circles) and females (red circles). The μdiff was significantly decreased (−0.17%/year, R2 = 0.39, P < 0.01) with aging in both men and women, with no significant differences in gender.

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  Fig. 3. Bar charts showing mean virtual shear modulus (μdiff, kPa) for each brain region with aging. The μdiff values of the parietal lobe and amygdala were relatively preserved. The μdiff of the hippocampus decreased after the fifth decade, whereas that of the cerebral GM significantly decreased from an earlier age.GM, gray matter; WM, white matter.

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  Fig. 4. Representative case of a virtual shear modulus (μdiff, kPa), map. White matter and deep structures exhibited relatively high μdiff values. The μdiff values decreased with aging.vMRE, virtual magnetic resonance elastography.