A comparative assessment of age- and gender-related variations in brain morphometry using linear and volumetric MRI analysis

Morphometric evaluation of the human brain is essential for characterizing normal structural variability and establishing benchmarks for early detection of pathological changes. This study aims to assess gray matter, white matter, and ventricular morphology through both linear and volumetric MRI techniques and to identify structural differences associated with age and gender. This retrospective study included 100 healthy adult volunteers with normal MRI findings (49 males, 51 females) aged 20–55 years. Linear measurements of the corpus callosum, ventricular system, and lobar gray and white matter were obtained using Radiant DICOM and OsiriX. Volumetric segmentation of brain tissues and lobes was performed with INMED NeuroShield software. Group differences were assessed using independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA, with false discovery rate correction (Benjamini–Hochberg) applied to control for multiple comparisons. Linear morphometric measures showed no significant gender differences, and age-related variations observed at the uncorrected level did not remain significant after multiple-comparison correction, whereas ventricular linear indices demonstrated significant gender differences that survived correction (p < 0.01). In contrast, volumetric analysis revealed higher global gray matter, white matter, and ventricular volumes in males, with age-associated gray matter reduction and ventricular enlargement remaining significant after false discovery rate correction (p < 0.01). The study establishes normative reference values for linear and volumetric morphometry, demonstrating age-dependent ventricular enlargement and reduction in GM and WM volumes, with measurable gender dimorphism. These findings support the clinical utility of MRI morphometry in distinguishing normal variation from early pathological change.