Comprehensive Assessment of Age-Related Hippocampal Changes in Murine Models Through Multimodal MRI and Spectroscopy

Motivation: Analyzing aging mice and controls reveals insights into structural, functional, and neurochemical alterations linked to cognitive decline, and offers potential therapeutic leads. Goal(s): To comprehensively analyze age-related alterations in the hippocampus of mice with MRI, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of aging. Approach: We utilized a multimodality MRI protocol to investigate age-related changes in the mouse hippocampus. Aging mice and a control group were compared. Results: Structural MRI revealed a significant reduction in hippocampal size in the aging mice. Cerebral blood volume (CBV) MRI showed reduced CBV, indicating hypometabolism. Proton MRS identified significant glutamate (GLU) reductions, suggesting neuronal function alterations. Impact: Our study of age-related hippocampal changes in mice, revealing reduced hippocampal volume, metabolism and GLU levels. This translational multimodality approach enhances understanding of age-related deficits in the hippocampus, and promotes potential therapies interventions for both preclinical and human studies.