Fig. 2.
Cortical distribution of CT and FA deficits as a function of age. Polynomial regression (see text) was used to map between-group differences in cortical thickness (left column) and infracortical white matter anisotropy (right; ribbon 4) at ages 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 y (top to bottom). Between-group differences were expressed as the percentage, Δ = (patients – controls) / controls × 100%, and thus warmer colors denote an increase in patients relative to controls. In early adulthood (20–30 y), frontal regions exhibit up to a 4% increase in infracortical white matter anisotropy in patients relative to controls. With increasing age and illness duration, this increase is supplanted by global reductions in white matter anisotropy. Frontotemporal cortical thickness reductions are evident in patients at all ages. L: left, R: right, CT: cortical thickness, FA: fractional anisotropy.