Age-related changes in cerebral MR angiography

Two hundred forty four neurologically normal subjects (118 males and 126 females, aged 7 to 82 yrs.) were evaluated to assess the correlation of the degree of visualization of cerebral arteries on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with aging, sex, laterality or lacunar infarctions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A single volume three-dimensional transformation time-of-flight pulse sequence with slab thickness of 115 mm was used to obtain axial, saggital and coronal projection images. A total of 6 arteries including bilateral anterior cerebral arteries (ACAs), middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) and posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs) for every subject were each graded into 8 scores by the degree of visualization of the arteries. Results show that an age-related decline of visualization of the cerebral arteries in ACA (r = -0.603, p < 0.001), MCA (r = -0.452, p < 0.001) and PCA (r = -0.537, p < 0.001). The arteries were better visualized in females than males during the fifth decade (p < 0.01). No substantial relationship was observed between the visualization and sex in the other decades, laterality or lacunar infarctions. Thus, the cerebral MRA showed an age-related decline of visualization of the arteries and a sex-difference of the visualization in the fifth decade, probably due to the decline of the blood flow velocity with aging and a difference in it between females and males in the fifth decade.