Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Galbán, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Ladd, M. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Galbán, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Ladd, M. E.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 62:453-458 (2007)
© 2007 The Gerontological Society of America

Age-Related Changes in Skeletal Muscle as Detected by Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Craig J. Galbán, Stefan Maderwald, Frank Stock and Mark E. Ladd

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Essen, Germany.

Address correspondence to Craig J. Galbán, PhD, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, BSRB, Rm. D206, 109 Zina Pitcher Pl., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200. E-mail: cgalban{at}umich.edu

Background. Loss of muscle mass and strength is a common symptom in the elderly population. This is partly a result of the structural changes that occur during the aging process. We applied diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTMRI) to determine if water diffusivity in skeletal muscle changes with age.

Methods. Thirty-eight healthy men, ranging from 27 to 67 years of age, were recruited for this study. The total population was grouped by age (Young < mean age 46.4: n = 20; Old ≥ mean age 46.4: n = 18) and body mass index (BMI; Normal < 25: n = 20; Over ≥25: n = 18). The principal, second, and third eigenvalues ({lambda}1 ≥ {lambda}2 ≥ {lambda}3), and fractional anisotropy (FA), were calculated from the diffusion tensor of the soleus, lateral and medial gastrocnemius, and anterior tibialis (AT). Analyses included comparison of groups and linear regressions.

Results. The older adults showed a significant reduction in the eigenvalues of the plantar flexors (~7%, p <.05) and FA of AT (~10%, p <.05) from that of the younger adults. No age differences were observed in the FA of the plantar flexors or eigenvalues of AT. {lambda}1 and {lambda}2 had a linear dependence on age in the plantar flexors, whereas AT showed age dependence in {lambda}3 and FA.

Conclusions. We demonstrated that DTMRI is sensitive to age-related changes in muscle, and that the effects of aging differ between the plantar flexors and AT.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2007 by The Gerontological Society of America.