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Abstract #2633

Microstructural Changes in Human Substantia Nigra with Aging as Revealed by Non-Gaussian Diffusion MRI

Zheng Zhong1,2, Muge Karaman1,2, Kaibao Sun1, and Xiaohong Joe Zhou1,2,3

1Center for MR Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States, 2Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States, 3Department of Radiology and Neurology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States

Aging is considered a major factor in the development of neurodegenerative disease. The aging process can result in brain tissue microstructural alterations, particularly in regions relevant to neurodegeneration, such as the substantia nigra (SN). In this study, we employed a non-Gaussian diffusion model – the continuous-time random-walk (CTRW) model – together with a high-resolution diffusion acquisition technique to investigate the possible microstructural changes in the SN in normal aging. Two CTRW model parameters have exhibited significant differences in the SN between young and elderly healthy human subjects.

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