Zheng Fenglian, Cui Dong, Zhang Li, Zhang Shitong, Zhao Yue, Liu Xiaojing, Liu Chunhua, Li Zhengmei, Zhang Dongsheng, Shi Liting, Liu Zhipeng, Hou Kun, Lu Wen, Yin Tao, Qiu Jianfeng
Medical Engineering and Technology Research Center, Taishan Medical University, Taian, China.
Imaging-X Joint Laboratory, Taian, China.
Front Aging Neurosci. 2018 Oct 10;10:320. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00320. eCollection 2018.
The hippocampus is an important limbic structure closely related to memory function. However, few studies have focused on the association between hippocampal subfields and age-related memory decline. We investigated the volume alterations of hippocampal subfields at different ages and assessed the correlations with Immediate and Delayed recall abilities. A total of 275 participants aged 20-89 years were classified into 4 groups: Young, 20-35 years; Middle-early, 36-50 years; Middle-late, 51-65 years; Old, 66-89 years. All data were acquired from the Dallas Lifespan Brain Study (DLBS). The volumes of hippocampal subfields were obtained using Freesurfer software. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to analyze alterations of subfield volumes among the 4 groups, and multiple comparisons between groups were performed using the Bonferroni method. Spearman correlation with false discovery rate correction was used to investigate the relationship between memory recall scores and hippocampal subfield volumes. Apart from no significant difference in the left parasubiculum ( = 0.269) and a slight difference in the right parasubiculum ( = 0.022), the volumes of other hippocampal subfields were significantly different across the adult lifespan ( < 0.001). The hippocampal fissure volume was increased in the Old group, while volumes for other subfields decreased. In addition, Immediate recall scores were associated with volumes of the bilateral molecular layer, granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus (GC-DG), cornus ammonis (CA) 1, CA2/3, CA4, left fimbria and hippocampal amygdala transition area (HATA), and right fissure ( < 0.05). Delayed recall scores were associated with the bilateral molecular layer, GC-DG, CA2/3 and CA4; left tail, presubiculum, CA1, subiculum, fimbria and HATA ( < 0.05). The parasubiculum volume was not significantly different across the adult lifespan, while atrophy in dementia patients in some studies. Based on these findings, we speculate that volume changes in this region might be considered as a biomarker for dementia disorders. Additionally, several hippocampal subfield volumes were significantly associated with memory scores, further highlighting the key role of the hippocampus in age-related memory decline. These regions could be used to assess the risk of memory decline across the adult lifespan.
海马体是与记忆功能密切相关的重要边缘系统结构。然而，很少有研究关注海马体亚区与年龄相关记忆衰退之间的关联。我们研究了不同年龄段海马体亚区的体积变化，并评估了其与即时回忆和延迟回忆能力的相关性。共有275名年龄在20 - 89岁的参与者被分为4组：青年组，20 - 35岁；中早期组，36 - 50岁；中晚期组，51 - 65岁；老年组，66 - 89岁。所有数据均来自达拉斯寿命期脑研究（DLBS）。使用Freesurfer软件获取海马体亚区的体积。进行协方差分析（ANCOVA）以分析4组之间亚区体积的变化，并使用Bonferroni方法进行组间多重比较。采用经错误发现率校正的Spearman相关性分析来研究记忆回忆分数与海马体亚区体积之间的关系。除了左侧副海马体体积无显著差异（P = 0.269）以及右侧副海马体有轻微差异（P = 0.022）外，在整个成年期，其他海马体亚区的体积存在显著差异（P < 0.001）。老年组的海马裂体积增加，而其他亚区的体积减小。此外，即时回忆分数与双侧分子层、齿状回颗粒细胞层（GC - DG）、海马角（CA）1、CA2/3、CA4、左侧伞和海马杏仁核过渡区（HATA）以及右侧海马裂的体积相关（P < 0.05）。延迟回忆分数与双侧分子层、GC - DG、CA2/3和CA4；左侧尾状核、前海马体、CA1、下托、伞和HATA相关（P < 0.05）。在整个成年期，副海马体体积无显著差异，而在一些研究中痴呆患者存在萎缩。基于这些发现，我们推测该区域的体积变化可能被视为痴呆症的生物标志物。此外，几个海马体亚区的体积与记忆分数显著相关，进一步突出了海马体在年龄相关记忆衰退中的关键作用。这些区域可用于评估整个成年期记忆衰退的风险。
