摘要

The human brain changes structurally and functionally during adolescence, with associated alterations in cerebral perfusion. We performed dynamic arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging in healthy subjects between 8 and 32 years of age, to investigate changes in cerebral hemodynamics during normal development. In addition, an inversion recovery sequence allowed quantification of changes in longitudinal relaxation time (T-1) and equilibrium longitudinal magnetization (M-0). We present mean and reference ranges for normal values of T-1, M-0, cerebral blood flow (CBF), bolus arrival time, and bolus duration in cortical gray matter, to provide a tool for identifying age-matched perfusion abnormalities in this age range in clinical studies. Cerebral blood flow and T-1 relaxation times were negatively correlated with age, without gender or hemisphere differences. The same was true for M-0 anteriorly, but posteriorly, males but not females showed a significant decline in M-0 with increasing age. Two examples of the clinical utility of these data in identifying age-matched perfusion abnormalities, in Sturge Weber syndrome and sickle cell anemia, are illustrated.

  • 出版日期2014-5