Subcortical volumes across the lifespan: Data from 18,605 healthy individuals aged 3–90 years
Authors: Dima Danai , Modabbernia Amirhossein , 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. , Dannlowski Udo , Dale Anders M. , 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. , Williams Steven C. R. , 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 ,   Karolinska Schizophrenia Project (KaSP)
Published: February 2021

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 capitalized on the resources of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to examine age‐related trajectories inferred from cross‐sectional measures 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 value early in life. The volume of the basal ganglia showed a monotonic negative association with age thereafter; there was no significant association between age and the volumes of the thalamus, amygdala and the hippocampus (with some degree of decline in thalamus) until the sixth decade of life after which they also showed a steep negative association with age. The lateral ventricles showed continuous enlargement throughout the lifespan. Age was positively associated with inter‐individual variability in the hippocampus and amygdala and the lateral ventricles. These results were robust to potential confounders and could be used to examine the functional significance of deviations from typical age‐related morphometric patterns.