Age dependence of the T2-weighted MRI signal in brain structures of a prosimian primate (Microcebus murinus)

Neurosci Lett. 1997 Nov 21;237(2-3):85-8. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(97)00809-4.

Abstract

Mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) are prosimian primates described to be convenient models of brain aging. We observed very high correlations between the T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal decrease and the natural logarithm of age in the basal ganglia. The correlation coefficient was higher for the pallidum (r = 0.95, P < 0.0001) than for other structures. We suggest that the ratio of the pallidum intensity divided by the amygdala and temporal lobe intensity should be a valuable non-invasive marker of age and of cerebral aging. It should be particularly useful for the non-invasive assessment of interventions and drugs that affect the aging process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Brain / anatomy & histology
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Cheirogaleidae / physiology*
  • Female
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male