Subcortical Volume Trajectories across the Lifespan: Data from 18,605 healthy individuals aged 3-90 years
Authors: Dima Danai , Papachristou Efstathios , Modabbernia Amirhossein , Doucet Gaelle E , Agartz Ingrid , Aghajani Moji , Akudjedu Theophilus N , Albajes-Eizagirre Anton , Alnæs Dag , Alpert Kathryn I , Andersson Micael , Andreasen Nancy , 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 RK , Clark Vincent P , Conrod Patricia , Conzelmann Annette , Crespo-Facorro Benedicto , Crivello Fabrice , Crone Eveline AM , Dale Anders M , Davey Cristopher , de Geus Eco JC , 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 , 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 , Jiang Jiyang , Jönsson Erik G , Joska John A , Kahn Rene , Kalnin Andrew , Kanai Ryota , Kang Sim , Klein Marieke , Klushnik 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 WJ , 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 , 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 , Roffman Joshua L , Rosa Pedro GP , 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 , 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 Odille A , van den Meer Dennis , van der Wee Nic JA , van Haren Neeltje EM , van ’t Ent Dennis , van Erp Theo GM , Veer Ilya M , Veltman Dick J , 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 , Williams Steven CR , Wittfeld Katharina , Wolf Daniel H , Worker Amanda , Wright Margaret J , Yang Kun , Yoncheva Yulyia , Zanetti Marcus V , Ziegler Georg C , Thompson Paul M , Frangou Sophia 
Published: May 2020

Age has a major effect on brain volume. However, the normative studies available are constrained by small sample sizes, restricted age coverage and significant methodological variability. These limitations introduce inconsistencies and may obscure or distort the lifespan trajectories of brain morphometry. In response, we capitalised on the resources of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to examine the age-related morphometric trajectories of the ventricles, the basal ganglia (caudate, putamen, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens), the thalamus, hippocampus and amygdala using magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from 18,605 individuals aged 3-90 years. All subcortical structure volumes were at their maximum early in life; the volume of the basal ganglia showed a gradual monotonic decline thereafter while the volumes of the thalamus, amygdala and the hippocampus remained largely stable (with some degree of decline in thalamus) until the sixth decade of life followed by a steep decline thereafter. The lateral ventricles showed a trajectory of continuous enlargement throughout the lifespan. Significant age-related increase in inter-individual variability was found for the hippocampus and amygdala and the lateral ventricles. These results were robust to potential confounders and could be used to derive risk predictions for the early identification of diverse clinical phenotypes.