Cortical thickness across the lifespan: Data from 17,075 healthy individuals aged 3–90 years
Authors: Frangou Sophia , Modabbernia Amirhossein , Williams Steven C. R. , Papachristou Efstathios , Doucet Gaelle E. , Agartz Ingrid , Aghajani Moji , Akudjedu Theophilus N. , Albajes‐Eizagirre Anton , Alnæs Dag , Alpert Kathryn I. , Andersson Micael , Andreasen Nancy C. , Andreassen Ole A. , Asherson Philip , Banaschewski Tobias , Bargallo Nuria , Baumeister Sarah , Baur‐Streubel Ramona , Bertolino Alessandro , Bonvino Aurora , Boomsma Dorret I. , Borgwardt Stefan , Bourque Josiane , Brandeis Daniel , Breier Alan , Brodaty Henry , Brouwer Rachel M. , Buitelaar Jan K. , Busatto Geraldo F. , Buckner Randy L. , Calhoun Vincent , Canales‐Rodríguez Erick J. , Cannon Dara M. , Caseras Xavier , Castellanos Francisco X. , Cervenka Simon , Chaim‐Avancini Tiffany M. , Ching Christopher R. K. , Chubar Victoria , Clark Vincent P. , Conrod Patricia , Conzelmann Annette , Crespo‐Facorro Benedicto , Crivello Fabrice , Crone Eveline A. , Dale Anders M. , Dannlowski Udo , Davey Christopher , de Geus Eco J. C. , de Haan Lieuwe , de Zubicaray Greig I. , den Braber Anouk , Dickie Erin W. , Di Giorgio Annabella , Doan Nhat Trung , Dørum Erlend S. , Ehrlich Stefan , Erk Susanne , Espeseth Thomas , Fatouros‐Bergman Helena , Fisher Simon E. , Fouche Jean‐Paul , Franke Barbara , Frodl Thomas , Fuentes‐Claramonte Paola , Glahn David C. , Gotlib Ian H. , Grabe Hans‐Jörgen , Grimm Oliver , Groenewold Nynke A. , Grotegerd Dominik , Gruber Oliver , Gruner Patricia , Gur Rachel E. , Gur Ruben C. , Hahn Tim , Harrison Ben J. , Hartman Catharine A. , Hatton Sean N. , Heinz Andreas , Heslenfeld Dirk J. , Hibar Derrek P. , Hickie Ian B. , Ho Beng‐Choon , Hoekstra Pieter J. , Hohmann Sarah , Holmes Avram J. , Hoogman Martine , Hosten Norbert , Howells Fleur M. , Hulshoff Pol Hilleke E. , Huyser Chaim , Jahanshad Neda , James Anthony , Jernigan Terry L. , Jiang Jiyang , Jönsson Erik G. , Joska John A. , Kahn Rene , Kalnin Andrew , Kanai Ryota , Klein Marieke , Klyushnik Tatyana P. , Koenders Laura , Koops Sanne , Krämer Bernd , Kuntsi Jonna , Lagopoulos Jim , Lázaro Luisa , Lebedeva Irina , Lee Won Hee , Lesch Klaus‐Peter , Lochner Christine , Machielsen Marise W. J. , Maingault Sophie , Martin Nicholas G. , Martínez‐Zalacaín Ignacio , Mataix‐Cols David , Mazoyer Bernard , McDonald Colm , McDonald Brenna C. , McIntosh Andrew M. , McMahon Katie L. , McPhilemy Genevieve , Meinert Susanne , Menchón José M. , Medland Sarah E. , Meyer‐Lindenberg Andreas , Naaijen Jilly , Najt Pablo , Nakao Tomohiro , Nordvik Jan E. , Nyberg Lars , Oosterlaan Jaap , de la Foz Víctor Ortiz‐García , Paloyelis Yannis , Pauli Paul , Pergola Giulio , Pomarol‐Clotet Edith , Portella Maria J. , Potkin Steven G. , Radua Joaquim , Reif Andreas , Rinker Daniel A. , Roffman Joshua L. , Rosa Pedro G. P. , Sacchet Matthew D. , Sachdev Perminder S. , Salvador Raymond , Sánchez‐Juan Pascual , Sarró Salvador , Satterthwaite Theodore D. , Saykin Andrew J. , Serpa Mauricio H. , Schmaal Lianne , Schnell Knut , Schumann Gunter , Sim Kang , Smoller Jordan W. , Sommer Iris , Soriano‐Mas Carles , Stein Dan J. , Strike Lachlan T. , Swagerman Suzanne C. , Tamnes Christian K. , Temmingh Henk S. , Thomopoulos Sophia I. , Tomyshev Alexander S. , Tordesillas‐Gutiérrez Diana , Trollor Julian N. , Turner Jessica A. , Uhlmann Anne , van den Heuvel Odile A. , van den Meer Dennis , van der Wee Nic J. A. , van Haren Neeltje E. M. , van 't Ent Dennis , van Erp Theo G. M. , Veer Ilya M. , Veltman Dick J. , Voineskos Aristotle , Völzke Henry , Walter Henrik , Walton Esther , Wang Lei , Wang Yang , Wassink Thomas H. , Weber Bernd , Wen Wei , West John D. , Westlye Lars T. , Whalley Heather , Wierenga Lara M. , Wittfeld Katharina , Wolf Daniel H. , Worker Amanda , Wright Margaret J. , Yang Kun , Yoncheva Yulyia , Zanetti Marcus V. , Ziegler Georg C. ,   Karolinska Schizophrenia Project (KaSP), Thompson Paul M. , Dima Danai 
Published: February 2021

Delineating the association of age and cortical thickness in healthy individuals is critical given the association of cortical thickness with cognition and behavior. Previous research has shown that robust estimates of the association between age and brain morphometry require large‐scale studies. In response, we used cross‐sectional data from 17,075 individuals aged 3–90 years from the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to infer age‐related changes in cortical thickness. We used fractional polynomial (FP) regression to quantify the association between age and cortical thickness, and we computed normalized growth centiles using the parametric Lambda, Mu, and Sigma method. Interindividual variability was estimated using meta‐analysis and one‐way analysis of variance. For most regions, their highest cortical thickness value was observed in childhood. Age and cortical thickness showed a negative association; the slope was steeper up to the third decade of life and more gradual thereafter; notable exceptions to this general pattern were entorhinal, temporopolar, and anterior cingulate cortices. Interindividual variability was largest in temporal and frontal regions across the lifespan. Age and its FP combinations explained up to 59% variance in cortical thickness. These results may form the basis of further investigation on normative deviation in cortical thickness and its significance for behavioral and cognitive outcomes.