正常脑老化过程中简单数字计算功能与脑灰质体积的关系

The relationship between simple numerical function and gray matter volume in normal brain aging

目的利用基于体素的形态学分析探索正常脑老化过程中简单数字计算功能和脑灰质体积的关系。方法2016年10月至2017年6月在郑州大学第一附属医院磁共振科招募汉族健康成年右利手志愿者123名,其中男63名、女60名,平均年龄18~70(43±14)岁。使用多维心理网络平台对受试者进行简单数字计算功能测试。对所有的受试者进行磁共振矢状位三维结构像扫描,并使用统计参数图(SPM)8软件进行基于体素的形态学分析,比较不同年龄组间脑灰质体积的差异。提取不同年龄组间的灰质体积差异脑区作为感兴趣区,与简单数字计算功能得分进行相关分析,寻找与简单数字计算能力下降相关的责任萎缩脑区。结果不同年龄组间灰质体积有差异的脑区主要包括双侧额上回、双侧前扣带回、双侧中扣带回、双侧嗅皮质、双侧尾状核、双侧岛叶。其中双侧额上回及前扣带回与灰质体积与简单数字计算功能的相关性最强,未将年龄作为协变量去除时,双侧额上回及前中扣带回与简单数字计算功能的校正后的正确个数呈显著正相关(r=0.403,P=0.000),与正确百分率呈正相关(r=0.229,P=0.037);将年龄作为协变量去除后,双侧额上回及前扣带回仍与简单数字计算功能的校正后的正确个数呈正相关(r=0.225,P=0.014),与正确百分率呈正相关(r=0.245,P=0.007)。结论正常脑老化过程中全脑存在较广泛的灰质体积萎缩,其中额叶和前扣带回灰质体积萎缩可能与简单数字计算功能下降有关。

Objective To explore the relationship between simple numerical function and gray matter volume (GMV) in normal brain aging using the voxel-based morphometry(VBM) approach. Methods A total of 123 individuals from 18 to 70 years old (63 males,60 females,the average age was (43±14) years, were recruited from right-handed healthy Han Chinese volunteers at the Department of MRI at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between October 2016 and June 2017. All subjects underwent magnetic resonance sagital three-dimensional imaging scanning, and statistical parameter graph (SPM) 8 software was used for voxel-based morphological analysis to compare the differences in gray matter volume between different age groups.Gray matter volume difference brain regions between different age groups were extracted as regions of interest, and correlation analysis was carried out on the score of simple numerical calculation to find the responsible atrophy brain regions related to the decline of simple digital computing ability. Results The brain regions with different gray matter volume in different age groups mainly included bilateral frontal gyrus, bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral middle cingulate gyrus, bilateral olfactory cortex, bilateral caudate nucleus and bilateral insula. Among them the GMV of bilateral superior frontal gyrus and anterior cingulate gyrus showed the strongest correlation with the simple numerical function. Before removing the effect of age, the correlation between the GMV of the bilateral superior frontal gyrus and medial cingulate gyrus and the corrected count of correct was significant (r=0.403,P=0.000), the correlation between GMV and the percent of correct was also significant (r=0.229,P=0.037).After removing age as a covariate, bilateral superior frontal gyrus and central cingulate gyrus were still positively correlated with the correct number after correction of simple numerical calculation function (r=0.225,P=0.014) and the correct percentage (r=0.245, P=0.007). Conclusion There is extensive gray matter volume atrophy during the normal brain aging process. The decrease of simple numerical function in normal brain aging may be related to the decrease of frontal and anterior cingulate gray matter volume.