[Quantitative-morphological changes of capillaries and neurons in the aging human putamen (author's transl)].

Stereological investigations (Classimat) of the capillary net of 4 age-groups, ranging between 19 and 94 years, revealed significant increase of capillary volume and total length, and decreased intercapillary distances in the aging putamen. Neuronal size and shape measurements (Texture-Analyzer-System) of the same brain region showed significant changes between the young (19-44 y.) and oldest (85-94 y.) group, indicating senile atrophy of the neuronal perikarya. Quantitative image-analysis facilitates to evaluate new morphometrical data of the aging process in the human brain, which are important for a pharmacological concept of treating cerebral insufficiency symptoms.