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01-04-2015 | Functional Neuroradiology

Age effects on cortical thickness in young Down’s syndrome subjects: a cross-sectional gender study

Authors: Andrea Romano, Marta Moraschi, Riccardo Cornia, Alessandro Bozzao, Olga Gagliardo, Laura Chiacchiararelli, Cristina Iani, Giacomo Stella, Giorgio Albertini, Alberto Pierallini

Published in: Neuroradiology | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine differences in the characteristic pattern of age-related cortical thinning in men and women with Down’s syndrome (DS) by means of MRI and automatic cortical thickness measurements and a cross-sectional design, in a large cohort of young subjects.

Methods

Eighty-four subjects with DS, 30 females (11–35 years, mean age ± SD = 22.8 ± 5.9) and 54 males (11–35 years, mean age ± SD = 21.5 ± 6.5), were examined using a 1.5-T scanner. MRI-based quantification of cortical thickness was performed using FreeSurfer software package. For all subjects participating in the study, the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between age and mean cortical thickness values has been evaluated.

Results

A significant negative correlation between cortical thickness and age was found in female DS subjects, predominantly in frontal and parietal lobes, bilaterally. In male DS subjects, a significant negative correlation between cortical thickness and age was found in the right fronto-temporal lobes and cingulate regions. Whole brain mean cortical thickness values were significantly negative correlated with age only in female DS subjects.

Conclusions

Females with Down’s syndrome showed a strong correlation between cortical thickness and age, already in early age. We suggest that the cognitive impairment due to hormonal deficit in the postmenopausal period could be emphasized by the early structural decline of gray matter in female DS subjects.

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Title: Age effects on cortical thickness in young Down’s syndrome subjects: a cross-sectional gender study
Authors: Andrea Romano
Marta Moraschi
Riccardo Cornia
Alessandro Bozzao
Olga Gagliardo
Laura Chiacchiararelli
Cristina Iani
Giacomo Stella
Giorgio Albertini
Alberto Pierallini
Publication date: 01-04-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Neuroradiology / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 0028-3940
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1920
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-014-1482-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Age effects on cortical thickness in young Down’s syndrome subjects: a cross-sectional gender study

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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