Cortical excitability and age-related volumetric MRI changes

L. C. Silbert, C. Nelson, S. Holman, R. Eaton, B. S. Oken, J. S. Lou, J. A. Kaye

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Normative data on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-derived measures of cortical excitability in the elderly is sparse. Nevertheless, elderly subjects are included as controls in studies utilizing TMS to investigate disease states. Age-associated increased ventricular cerebrospinal fluid CSF (vCSF) and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) MRI volumes have uncertain significance in non-demented elderly. Information regarding cortical excitability in neurologically intact elderly would augment our understanding of the pathophysiology of aging and assist in the interpretation of TMS studies involving elderly subjects. Methods: Twenty-four healthy elderly subjects underwent TMS testing to determine outcomes of resting motor threshold (RMT) cortical silent period (cSP) and central motor conduction time for examination in relation to WMH, vCSF, and CNS volumes. Results: Increased vCSF and WMH volumes were associated with decreased right and left hemisphere RMT. Smaller CNS volumes were associated with decreased right hemisphere RMT and shorted cSP. Conclusions: Commonly observed age-associated MRI changes are associated with findings consistent with increased cortical excitability. Significance: Age-related MRI findings likely reflect changes at a cellular level, and may influence cognitive and motor integrity in the elderly. Future TMS studies investigating cortical excitability may wish to consider neuroimaging markers of neurodegeneration prior to enrolling elderly subjects as controls.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1029-1036
Number of pages8
JournalClinical Neurophysiology
Volume117
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Atrophy
  • Cortical excitability
  • TMS
  • White matter

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sensory Systems
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Physiology (medical)

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