Effects of cerebrovascular risk factors on gray matter volume in adults aged 60–64 years: A voxel-based morphometric study

Chen, Xiaohua; Wen, Wei; Anstey, Kaarin J.; Sachdev, Perminder S.

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2006.01.009

« Previous Next »Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Volume 147, Issue 2 , Pages 105-114, 30 October 2006

Effects of cerebrovascular risk factors on gray matter volume in adults aged 60–64 years: A voxel-based morphometric study

Xiaohua Chen
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Corresponding author. Neuropsychiatric Institute, Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9382 3817; fax: +61 2 9382 3774.
Wei Wen
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Kaarin J. Anstey
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra ACT, Australia
Perminder S. Sachdev
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Received 7 August 2005; received in revised form 11 January 2006; accepted 11 January 2006.

Abstract

The effect of putative cerebrovascular risk factors on gray matter volume in a community-dwelling, non-demented 60- to 64-year-old cohort was investigated. Cranial T1-weighted MRI scans were obtained in 337 adults and voxel-based morphometric analyses were applied to detect regional gray matter volume differences related to hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and hyperlipidemia in men and women, respectively. Hypertension-related gray matter volume reduction was found in right superior, bilateral medial frontal, left superior temporal and left precentral gyri in men. No regional differences in gray matter related to hypertension were seen in women. Conversely, female but not male smokers had more gray matter volume in right fusiform gyrus and right temporal subgyral gray matter. No differences were observed in gray matter volume in association with diabetes or hyperlipidemia for men or women. Our results suggest that there are different patterns of regional effects in gray matter volume in relation to different cerebrovascular risk factors, and sex differences for the same risk factors.

Keywords: Brain, Hypertension, Magnetic resonance imaging, Smoking, Voxel-based morphometry