AGE-DEPENDENCE OF THE T2-WEIGHTED MRI SIGNAL IN BRAIN STRUCTURES OF APROSIMIAN PRIMATE (MICROCEBUS-MURINUS)

Mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) are prosimian primates described to be convenient models of brain aging. We observed very high correlation s between the T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal decr ease and the natural logarithm of age in the basal ganglia. The correl ation coefficient was higher for the pallidum (r = 0.95, P < 0.0001) t han for other structures. We suggest that the ratio of the pallidum in tensity divided by the amygdala and temporal lobe intensity should be a valuable noninvasive marker of age and of cerebral aging. It should be particularly useful for the non-invasive assessment of intervention s and drugs that affect the aging process. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd.