Age and Gender-Related Variations in Hepatic Vascular Phenotypes - a Population Study

Motivation: Research on hepatic vascular phenotypes in human populations is currently limited. Investigating thevariations in hepatic vascular tissues across groups of diverse ages holds significant potential for identifying innovative biomarkers associated with aging and various diseases. Goal(s): To establish a comprehensive understanding of how hepatic vascular phenotypes evolve in relation to the aging process and differ between genders. Approach: First, skeletonize the branches of the vessel network via a fast-marching approach. And then Organization and Morphology phenotypes were extracted from mDixon imaging. Results: The study revealed 21 phenotypes exhibited a declining trend as individuals age, while 15 phenotypes showed a positive correlation with age. Impact: These findings highlight the complex link between vascular traits and aging, revealing subtle vascular changes over time. The study's implications are transformative, identifying novel aging-related biomarkers with potential applications in liver diseases.