Poster No:
1160
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Gwang-Won Kim1, Kwangsung Park2, Yun-Hyeon Kim3, Gwang-Woo Jeong3
Institutions:
1Advanced Institute of Aging Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Chonnam, 2Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Chonnam, 3Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Chonnam
First Author:
Gwang-Won Kim
Advanced Institute of Aging Science, Chonnam National University
Gwangju, Chonnam
Co-Author(s):
Kwangsung Park
Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School
Gwangju, Chonnam
Yun-Hyeon Kim
Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School
Gwangju, Chonnam
Gwang-Woo Jeong
Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School
Gwangju, Chonnam
Introduction:
Aging is a multifaceted and complex phenomenon characterized by neuro-physiological changes that exert a variety of effects on the structure and function of the brain. One such pivotal transition in women is menopause which encompasses the loss of ovarian reproductive function. However, menopause-related thalamic subnuclear changes are poorly understood. Thus, this study was aimed to compare the brain volume changes, focusing especially on the thalamic subnuclei, between premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Methods:
Twenty-one premenopausal women (mean age = 39.8 ± 7.6 years) and 21 postmenopausal women (mean age = 55.3 ± 2.5 years) participated in this study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were acquired using a 3.0 Tesla Magneton Tim Trio MR Scanner (Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany). Serum sex hormones, including total estrogen, estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), free testosterone (free-T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured. The thalamic subnuclear volumes were measured using the FreeSurfer v7.2 software. Twenty-five thalamic subnuclei (50 regions of interest) were extracted extracted from each hemisphere on T1 image. Each thalamic subnuclear volume was adjusted using the following equation: Adjusted volume = (Each thalamic subnuclear volume (mm3) / Whole brain volume (mm3)) × 1000.
Results:
Compared with premenopausal women, postmenopausal women showed lower levels of total estrogen (p < 0.001) and E2 levels (p < 0.001); higher levels of FSH (p < 0.001) and LH (p = 0.005). Postmenopausal women showed significantly smaller cortical surface, especially in the left medial orbitofrontal cortex, right superior temporal cortex, and right lateral orbitofrontal cortex compared to premenopausal women (p < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected). Notably, the thalamic subnuclear volume, especially in the right pulvinar anterior region, in the postmenopausal women was significantly decreased (p < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected). The levels of E2 were positively correlated with the adjusted volumes of the right pulvinar anterior (r = 0.34, p = 0.030).
Conclusions:
This study compared differential thalamic subnuclear volumes between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. It is suggested that diminished brain volume are potentially associated with menopause-related neuro-physiological change caused by the lower sex hormone levels. Our findings will be helpful for an understanding of the effects of menopause on the altered brain volume in postmenopausal women.
Lifespan Development:
Aging 1
Early life, Adolescence, Aging 2
Keywords:
Aging
MRI
STRUCTURAL MRI
Thalamus
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Provide references using author date format
1. Kim, G.W. (2023), 'Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease in Postmenopausal Women Using Thalamic Subnuclear Volumetry', Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 12, no. 21, pp. 6844
2. Blagosklonny, M.V. (2023), 'Are menopause, aging and prostate cancer diseases', Aging, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 298-307
3. Yureneva, S. (2021), 'Searching for female reproductive aging and longevity biomarkers', Aging, vol. 13, no. 12, pp. 16873-16894