SEX-DIFFERENCES IN THE CORPUS-CALLOSUM WITH AGING

The present study examined sex differences in the area and age-related atrophy of the corpus callosum (CC) of 76 healthy elderly subjects us ing magnetic resonance imaging. The cerebellum and pens served as nonc ortical control structures. CC area and its subregions were also relat ed to cognitive performance. Women had a slightly larger posterior sec tor of the CC than men. Women but not men showed age-related atrophy o f the anterior and middle sectors of the CC but not the posterior sect or. Cerebellum and pens size was similar in men and women, and neither showed age-related atrophy. CC area was related to visual memory in w omen but not men; no other significant cognitive to structure area rel ationships were found. These findings show that selective age related atrophy of the CC differs in men and women late in life. (C) 1997 Else vier Science Inc.