PET Clinics · Nov 16, 2024
Structural and Molecular Imaging of Aging Brain: A Focus on MR Imaging and PET Modalities
By Ghonim M, Ghonim M, Kim Redden HW et al.
The process of aging in the brain is reflective of various factors including the environment, lifestyle, genetics, and management of concurrent chronic conditions. Aging in the brain leads to observable structural changes on neuroimaging, such as brain volume reduction, neuronal atrophy, and synaptic loss, which affect higher cognitive functions. Positron emission tomography imaging can help visualize these changes earlier before structural changes even take place and the associated decline in brain function, revealing important insights into how the brain ages and the impact on neural connectivity and cognitive abilities.